A war scene from afar
By Hannah Bales
She opens her eyes, too early in the morning,
A wave of fear rolls over her like a warning,
Cold breezes in her head and her mind
The thoughts on repeat: Has the night been kind?
A shiver, then silence – still nothing to feel
But pain in her chest, it confirms that she’s real
And as much as she wants to, she could never wake up
For her dreams have been stolen - when will it stop?
She thinks:
Being with them would be bad, but being here is much worse
Yet what’s there to do when a life has been cursed?
When actions don’t matter, there’s no one to trust
When all they have worked for is broken or lost?
Is this a fight about a life in sorrow that we’re meant to lead
A challenge to see whether we’re strong or we’re weak
While a man holds their lives in his small, little hands
We watch him rule. Who understands? Who understands?
The horror is miles away but not oceans apart
Hundreds are killed every day it is breaking her heart
Knowing just how the world sees, but no one gets up
She cries: Are they too weak or just don’t want it to stop?
In her head and outside is a cruel, raging a war
All that she wants is them to tell her what they’re leading it for –
Know why we here we hide, we don’t talk, we don’t see
Why don’t we dare to speak up – for her, for them, for you, for real?