More Than Flowers Poem by Barry Middleton

earth is more than flowers
the children are playing
chasing the darkness

lovers are sighing
swearing their allegiance

but the rumble of thunder
shutters an illusion

in spring there was hope
brotherhood laughed at war
invisible for a generation

then an insane mist fell
it was a shroud
soldiers returning
silent beneath their flag

the children are praying
wars erupt like fire
the children are dying
spring blooms hide a bomb

when the earth falls silent
a cold river will flow
underneath the ice
our meek heir will awaken