War! Poem by Mehreen Tahir

As he heard the world talk,
about a possible war,
he went down memory lane,
and thought about the horrific past!

He was sitting in his home,
eating dinner with his wife,
when he got a phone call,
to reach the front lines.

What had been dreaded,
had taken place,
his country was on war,
with a tough enemy to face.

He remembers how it was,
how it looked like,
explosions everywhere,
shots being fired from all sides!

His friend was hit in the chest,
another lying motionless on the ground,
all were bloodied and wounded,
but help couldn’t be found!

They breathed their last,
like thousands others,
who all died wishing,
to hug their mothers!

But still the war went on,
with no hope but much despair.
“Will we ever go home? ”
was the question he heard everywhere.

Oh! How well he remembers,
those days of agony,
of pain and sorrow,
that changed the lives of so many!

He remembers the explosions,
that rocked the solid earth,
and killed the young soldier,
awaiting his first child’s birth!

He thinks about the soldiers,
that he knew so well,
but never saw again,
after those days of hell!

At last the war ended,
but only a handful returned home.
All the others had died,
leaving their families to mourn.

He still remembers the sight,
one of many he’ll never forget,
a mother waiting for her son,
but one she never again met!

And the little girl,
waiting for her Daddy,
to hug him and kiss him,
and say she loved him dearly!

He remembers the young bride,
praying her husband be seen,
but he never returned,
shattering her dreams!

It was a sad time,
with everyone in tears,
praying for the people,
who to them were so dear!

Now as he remembers those times,
sitting in his rocking chair,
with tears flowing down his eyes,
with pain so hard to bear!

Suddenly he hears a little cry,
of his grandson learning to crawl,
and says a silent prayer,
that the little one never faces a war!

And he prays that the world,
will not repeat this tale,
and forget about a war,
and let peace prevail!