Brutalities of War

Atrocious affliction trembles voices of anguish Brewing vile horror in death of tomorrow Fearing for the newborn, women, and children For yesterday’s massacre killed her husband And the war-torn town screamed in agony Wrapped in rags of shattered hopes, Quivering hearts of disassembled valor Incapable to assuage a hapless mother’s sorrow. A lone crow caws atop heaps of rubble Amplifying appetency for affinity of life, Abjuring the blood thirsty hiding in disguise To rob any remnants of civility and pride From dismantled lives, walking shoeless, Upon splintered glass littered in broken paths When pigeons too left the desolate grounds. Dreams once auspicious acquiesce to nightmares Within awry silence of a burning dawn As the allure of a new day inconsolably cries When her only surviving child dies in her arms. Divinity won’t absolve them of despicable sins, That echo from playgrounds, shuttered bakery shops, And the shrieks of families mingling in market Where aroma of fresh bread once permeated air And warmth of hot tea glasses greeted the day. Wary footsteps march slowly to the other side: It’s a bit safer there where a wedding is planned-- They don’t yet know, the young groom has died, In a senseless war lost in poverty of thoughts. Written: October 15, 2019 Submitted on 1/22/2023 to: 2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 25 Poetry Contest Sponsor: Mark Toney Placed 1st: Crazy A’s poetry contest Sponsor: John Hamilton Required words in the order included in this poem: Atrocious, anguish, assuage, appetency, auspicious, awry, allure, absolve Placed 3rd: Strand choice poetry contest by Brian Strand