Winter War sketch (c)Michael J. Whelan
WAR
Early snow laid quiet the land,
kept still in silent slumber,
streams curving under frozen shields
caressed the virgin wonder
and scars of war upon the earth
were hidden to the sky,
for in that morning’s dawning breath
both man and bird could fly.
But in the woods bold soldiers woke
a bear from angry sleep,
their marching songs fuelled his hate,
brought bloodlust to his teeth.
And in the field a stomping mare
feared her awful fate,
biting and kicking she fought to live
until the fateful claw
that laid her quiet on the land,
blood stealing all the snow.
As she died her heat rose up
like steam from all her wounds,
her organs bled the air above
and soldiers warmed their hands.
Michael J. Whelan
Published by Mark Ulyseas in Le Poetry Magazine, October Issue 2016
see http://liveencounters.net/2016/09/20/live-encounters-poetry-october-2016/
Michael J. Whelan - Writer 