(100) A Flame Now Extinquished

I can see the setting of the Sun
I watch a sky turning red
A romantic meal where candles burn
Poetry and beautiful words said

But then I look further at this World
There is a horror I wish I never saw
The terror I can see being hurled
The waste of life in a terrible war

Look at the young couples holding hands
Because now all I see is the colour black
Their love is one everybody understands
What of those young soldiers not coming back ?

Countless graves mark heroes who were not long, boys
Now they are gone, killed by a bomb or a gun
I shake my head at these lives now destroyed
Too many graves are here of men who were young

Show a salute for a man who once was a young lover
Who became a soldier to do what he believed to be right
Now these many young men lay buried next to each other
A flame now extinguished that once burned bright



copyright Chris Smith 2009

Reviews

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Beauty and Ugliness side by side here in our world. It is all here for the viewing and what we choose to see and feel are up to us. I choose to feel and see it all and try to be optimistic. We can lose ourselves in just beauty and lose touch with reality or we can lose ourselves in the ugliness of our world and lose sight of all beauty. This is where balance comes in.........A wonderful piece my sweet friend.

[C. Rose]

Really compelling shift at the second stanza, I like the immediate emotional change. The melody was perfect, the sentiment so felt in our times, such waste of life...over meaningless conflict. ~ Rose

[Kathryn]

The obscene and beautiful sids of life are bot shown perfectly here. I love the last line especially. Beautiful rhythmn and flow, and another brilliant peice. Well done :)

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

the balance of the universal light and dark is always precariously poised and all too often tilts its broken head toward the shadows~ poignant and heart breaking write with imagery to grasp the reader's mind immediately from line one through to the end~

[Lilly Negoi]

oh, what a moving poem...isn't it sad indeed that so many young men gave their lives in history sometimes for causes that weren't even theirs?!...

[FaithfullyJennyBear]

I love how you contrast love and hate in the same kind of situation, this poem really made me think. A father of a friend of mine is at war at the moment.. she is always upset and worried about him. So I do understand most words from this poem. Very powerful my friend. Thankyou for sharing :)

[Aidz]

A solem piece, well written and from the right place

[Art]

sadly life is filled with sadness...losing a young life to war or for that matter any tragedy, can makes us see the world with that horror you speak of. Society has a long way to go before we can see any Light...nice work Chris...

[Hayley]

Wow, this whole poem is really, really, really good. It means a lot to me, as well as a lot of people I assume. It's heartfelt and powerful, and that is what makes it meaningful and strong.

[sarah]

THis is an increable peice this is truly....this is just great

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Beautifully written! We all should take time each day to remember our soliders, men and women! Soild write!