Syria 13 March 2013 Poem by Danny Draper

Old Zion enemies offer peace advice
Proffering peaceful Arabs,
Foreign arms sellers promote peace
Tender arms embargo or propose
Stocking the competitor,
A sale is a sale.

The uncivil war
Grinds homes and bones
Undoes a nation
Cleaves sects from the body
And deep delirious trauma
Ensures wounds remain septic.

Basher smashes, safe in fortress
Assured his might is right
By entitlement and indignation
Against the audacity of challengers
Voices and actions against their
Asserted natural ruler.

Children hide in a Roman burial cave
Dank from history
Cannot conceal their terror
Little light enters
Blanketed black and fearful
Father killed by war
Childhood terminated
Uncertain of Mother's return.

Outside, the crushing days
And years flick past,
Within, the darkness pervades
Each fragile body and brittle soul.