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Poet's Corner

BENEATH THESE GUN-METAL SKIES OF MOURNING

10-11-2008

Brendan Hawthorne, the Stirrer's poet laureate, reflects on Remembrance Day.

Petals fall
leaf-like
as the year turns
towards remembrance
Each face
of those lost
in conflict
looks upon
cause
and outcome
and reason
Each picture
carries
a reality
a casualty
in black
and white
sepia
and colour
Today
emotion sweeps
through barriers
of language
and culture
Brushes aside
intolerance
to re-unite us
with those
who gave
so much in life
and say
so much in death
And as we gather
beneath these
gun-metal skies of mourning
each of us
bearing a blood-red
poppy of memory
is testament to
commune in a shared
message to the world
with the hope that
all peace-makers
will begin to heal
the scars
and wounds
born
of discord and hate
so the clouds
that bear injustice
may part and
allow the light
to illuminate and warm
the soul
of humanity with love