Blood-Black Death (When The War Is Over) [2010] Poem by Catherine Beahl

Sweltering lands, co’ered with human flesh,
Decaying beneath a rising red sun;
Ravaging all, with wounds that bleed afresh;
Cankering bloody roses, just undone.

Bleeding skulls stare, with a murderous glare;
Piercing all, but sightless souls; stained with sin;
Burying dreams of restless souls, who bare
Lasting zest; weeping o’er blood-stained kin.

Screeching screams scatter; with thoughts of children,
Drowning; within blood-stained human squander.
Tolling knells, fore’er echo for fallen,
Paying respect to bruised souls who wander;

Withering away, till they show despair;
Wondering, doth a cankered rose repair?