Too Many Sirens Poem by Philip Carter

I'm in a pub near Christmas time
Next to the Clapham Road
The decorations are still going up
So no sensory overload
The Christmas lights are flashing
With colours blue, white and red
It reminds everyone
Of the festive time ahead
But breaking the spell of Christmas
The flashing of other lights
The blue of emergency vehicles
Rushing past both left and right
Even though I am inside
The sirens can still be heard
Even over the loud mouth bore
Who swears every other word
It would be nice, just for a while
Everything was peace and calm
And all of us in this world
Would walk along arm in arm
But this idea is nothing new
Others have tried before
They've asked for peace throughout the world
And a stop to senseless war
All I ask if for a break
From the sirens rushing by
And the hope this festive season
No one will have to cry.