Flashes of light from far exploding shells intermittent in disorder
Reminiscent of the violence in the surroundings, lest it may be forgotten
Drum beats rolling of the soldiers' boots marching in the distance
Trampling in condescension upon newly conquered soils
Bullets shrieking through the air towards people and property alike
Striking down with force with neither prejudice, nor mercy
With each distant blast, are buildings trembling violently
As I cower in my rat hole in fear, trembling along
And then I see her, so close and yet almost a lifetime away
As she unsettles, sheds her veil and lifts up her face
Through the cracked glass panes, across the wartorn, deserted street
Into the bullet ridden window of my place of shelter, her eye catches mine.
For the briefest of moments, in peace, the surrounding chaos is forgotten
What do I see in them, is it fear of death or is it grief for the dead
Is it concern for a dependent or in despair of solitude
And then in one honest moment, she reveals to me and I see
The fury in those eyes burning against those that dared to oppress
The resignation in those eyes, resignation to what she must do
And even as I comprehend the justness of it all, she blows herself
In an explosion I never heard, in a blinding light I never saw,
But her image so near and yet almost a lifetime away
Etched in me forever.
