Birds of lead

The small group walks the blasted street
,

a white shirt flutters high


Women speak in voices hushed,


in hand a young child cries


Homes left in the streets behind


where violence has erupted


Searching out a safe haven


of sanctuary uncorrupted


And then the silence shatters

as the leaded birds take flight


Their stuttering song is deafening, 

muzzle flashes, plumage bright


And then again silence descends

as the echoes roll away


Tendrils of smoke hang lazily

as red pools beneath the grey

Scattered all around they lay,

burqa’s turned to funeral shrouds


A hand outstretched on broken ground, 

a glazed eye reflects the clouds


Breath halted in its rhythmic tide,

stories ended, large and small


And the white shirt asks with ink blots red,

what do we really see at all ?


For all the empty talk of peace

there’s no dove yet in sight


Just skies darkened with birds of lead,

a land trembles with their flight


It’s never been as simple

as a line drawn in the sand


And its terrorism none the less

when blood stains official hands


For all the overseas backing,

biblical reasoning and aplomb


Their actions speak the same language

as a man strapped to a bomb

Reviews

[Amanda Granger]

"
And its terrorism none the less
when blood stains official hands

For all the overseas backing,
biblical reasoning and aplomb

Their actions speak the same language
as a man strapped to a bomb"
This is so well articulated. Perfect allusions to what's going on in the Middle East and the sort of extremism on our end that doesn't get nearly enough press attention. Excellent metaphorical imagery to make it that much deeper. Great job, I love it!

[anartao]

I have great issue with the hypocrisy that see's the same act defined as both terrorism and liberation, dependant on which finger is on the trigger. Thanks for the great review !

[Amanda Granger]

I know exactly how you feel. It's quite sad. You're welcome :)