Stealthy Comes The Night Poem by Aaron Brown

Hearts heavy with shadows
cast aside by dreams of light,
mourners retreat in stippled dark
and the news shades the grey between.

Tongues steeped in silence
sharp with remembered pain,
conquered kneel before the sword
and the news sweeps the blame away.

Hands clasped in sorrow
bought by innocence lost,
children weep for broken lives
and the news paints the gilded lies.

Eyes drowned in oceans
poured from cups of despair,
young soldiers die for old cliches
and the news draws the focus aside.

Ears closed by falsehoods
spoken by glib stolen power,
nations trade away free for fear
and the news reads the prompted line.

Wary, whispered below the trumpets

Stealthy comes the night
behind the subtle mask of day,
nimbly trampling muffled liberty
and the news snuffs the telltale light.

(2005)