Collateral Damage

A verse of curse

On the other side we like to hide
lies a curse in the verse of life
a place where the lost and lonely
lie beside the war-torn strife.

The collateral damage of peoples torn
helplessly scrambling for cover
tragic ends to some unborn
in the rubble they uncover.

A mother holding remnants of
a torn and empty photograph
inscribed upon her anguished mind
a scribbled autograph.

Memories burnt to ash
soldiers on the street
broken bricks piles of rubble
black and shoeless feet.

Tears upon cheeks of stubble
screams of anguish for
all of those who are lost
and those that came before.

Ravages left behind
of fingers seeking power
senseless shrapnel fast unleashed
innocent ones left to cower.

Collateral damage on the ground
tears for the dead and dying
toys buried and unfound
a hapless father crying.

War unleashed on innocents
rockets raining without warning
aimed at the unseen enemy
from oily tyrants fawning.

The craze led coalition
fair game collateral damage
sent abroad by their volition
the innocents to ravage.

A bird on high flies on by
she is a bird alone
winging o’er the evening sky
on her last flight home.

To all the lost and lonely
the fear and senseless ravage
spare a thought or be caught
in the collateral damage.

I know and care as I was there
the remnants never fade
what I’ve seen is so obscene
a curse that is manmade.

©

David Rudder
7th August 2020

Thank you for reading.