Just before dawn

It’s just before dawn
and, foolishly, I let myself imagine
that the guns are silent now
that the warriors of all sides
are gently cradled by the generosity of the dark
their faces almost childlike
their bodies not quite restored
and ready for another day of the war
that never ends
until we all
surrender
 
Perhaps at breakfast we will read the latest news
talk politics and politicians
and hypocrisy and history
and profits and power and fear and fury
and anything but
our impotence
and our dread

Anything but the deep and
silent grief
that resides the world over
in every single heart
that has ever been torn
apart
by war
 
I walk barefoot into the garden
to catch the swiftly fading stars
I know full well
I cannot hold
the day at bay

Three planes trail across the sky
their vapours beginning to tinge with rose

Venus is my only witness now
shimmering and so
gracefully diminishing
 
Hush, my love
The soldiers have been woken
 
Quick
Carry the children down to the basement
I will bring blankets and food and water