Caught in the crossfire

I wrote this after watching a heart rending TV programme about the children of Afghanistan, but it also relates to any war torn country where the innocent become victims.

There are dreams gathering dust on the silk road,

as lost as the ancient land that beget them;

they ghost down its length, ebbing away their

life across the roof of the world and the 

star hung nights of a ceaseless war that 

serves only the unyielding passion of its people. 

And yet, where life and death is now

measured by the emptiness of a child's belly,

there still exists a quiet oasis, where the scent 

of saffron and sandalwood lingers in the air; 

seeping down through the fabric of time as the

yellow moon spins its tenuous threads of re-birth.

There are dreams gathering dust on the silk road;

still this side of paradise, but for now, almost forgotten 

as they wait patiently for the sun to lose its heat.

They are the fragile buds that will one day flower anew,

causing all other empires to crumble and great kings to

finally yield before the innocence of the children of God.

Reviews

[jonah]

wow what an amazing work this is! really got me. The words...they're so rich and able to strike the reader's heart. It sends out a signal of the painful reality of wars and conflicts. But it doesn't stop there. Something's also emerging from the depth this poem, maybe it's hope, a glory for the future generation. Impressive work.

[Woody]

what right do adults have to deprive children of their dreams, of their lives? a wonderfully penned, heartfelt poem that could apply to so many children around the world. Irak, Syria, Palestine, to name but a few.

[Lydia Shutter]

Yes, the children are the victims. Their world is filled with ugliness at a young age and that is a tragedy. What happens to their dreams? Do they even dare to dream them? Such a compassionate and empathetic poem. The imagery you employ is intense....and well written. Lydi**

[NoelHC]

Admirable sentiments, and beautifully written, you paint vivid images with the words you have used here. I hope for those children there will be a brighter future, but I suspect that the country will get much worse before it gets better. Contrast Iran of the 1960 and 70s with it today, and you can see it is being drug back to the 7th century.
Excellent writing.