Brilliant flashes of light
Fuel chill during night.
A dawn then reveals,
The Sky Angel alight.
Soldiers young and old,
Their courage so able,
Respect distant orders
From chairs at tables.
Each day the soldiers survive,
brings to them hope renewed,
But for far too many lovers,
There are only final adieus.
All applaud the brave,
But then fail to see,
Red stains upon the snow,
So many children bleed.
Allies of the past,
Are enemies today,
Generals again blindly follow,
A man’s soul so hollow.
A world observes from afar,
As strong prey upon the weak.
A hoped-for new world order,
Fades in a winter bleak.
Shall the rule of law prevail?
Will justice confront aggressors?
For this and in future conflicts,
The world has no rejoinder.
I have no great answers,
For these and other questions,
All I know is that humanity fails,
If we accept this retrogression.
When conflict abates,
Life’s illusion again stable,
Yet in too many homes,
Empty chairs sit at tables.
As we applaud the courage of those who stand against tyranny, let us equally yearn for peace. For all who have, or may face, the loss of loved ones.