Armistice
A hundred years ago
Europe was ablaze
An awful fire, open-pit
Like southern
Soldier picking
North Africa, western Asia
Cut into with blunt
European, Turkish knives
As if
The lands were
Burnt meat
Now the USA is adding
Fuel to the fire
My grandfather a soldier-stick
Serving with muscle and courage
And fear
(I’m guessing about the fear, for I never
Saw if in him)
Then all elevens,
And it’s over: fire tamped
Ashes rising, setting on new ground
Of anger and reparation
Peace rendered ironic
Buckets of grave dirt
Thrown against
Walls of retribution
Against which
New shadows will rise
C L Couch
(National Geographic Society)
November 19, 2017 at 6:12 pm
Wonderful piece for Veterans/Remmberance Day. You show so well that war is both fear and bravery and both victory and celebration but also death and destruction.