As I walk through the greasy compound,
On a new and rainy dawning
And while the oil slips away
To add to the plight of another morning.
When dark men and boys in dark clothes
Parade proudly with their weapons
And smile their false smiles,
Or laugh at any cruel fate that happens.
Whilst engorged black and white birds gloat,
With their evil and ugly eyes just watching
And when birds of prey are circling,
Above the misfortunes of some horrific happening.
When dark women flaunt their beauty,
And make themselves appealing,
While deformed, impoverished children
Struggle for a life that sends my mind reeling.
These are the times when I want to go home,
And these are the times I dream of my family,
But also the times when I know I must stay
To right some wrong, and show my strength happily.
22 Apr 95
In the enormity of time
We take our small portion,
To do with as we choose,
With indifference or pride and devotion.
While the stars still circle above,
Will the efforts that we engage
Be enough to make a difference
Amongst the horror of this human carnage?
Caught in the confusion and frustration,
Wading through these fearful people,
Will we be able to alter this desolation
And ensure a soul’s future free from devastation?
When we return to the peace
Resting amongst our family,
Can we say we changed the direction
Of a woeful human trajectory?
30 Apr 95
There is a stranger in my country.
He smiles and tries what he must.
A white man who cannot speak our language.
We want to give him our trust
Fighting for food to stop our bellies from aching
He comes and walks among us
Searching for water to ease our thirsting,
Tries to stop the bleeding and the hurting.
He moves back and forth reassuring,
Wading amongst our afflicted people.
A promise he gave to return again
And take me and my injured child with him.
A long time I have been watching and waiting.
He will come, he had no reason for lying.
But why is my small child not breathing
And the weapons pointed at me firing?
15 May 95
Now I know what it really is to hate
As before it was a word I didn’t know
Reeling up before me it has torn at my heart and fate
My strength it was weakened, my defences too late
It is a feeling so strong it exhausts you
So intense that it can blind
All encompassing is the anger within
You breathe it so deeply it stinks in your skin
Like a wall of iron it strikes you
Before you ever see it coming
Your desire is to act fast and true
An action I would rue
So why didn’t I respond and kill
And avenge all the wrong doings?
Send them to hell with a sickening laugh
My conscience eased by an action of destroying
My friends were always near me
As we faced our revulsion together
The consequences were quickly assessed
We kept our focus on an effort for the best
Though in this land I have found hate
And it awakens me in my slumber
I have also found solace in strong friends
To counter the weight I encumber.
Thanks for sharing Robbie.
More
of Robbie's poems at up at the Blue
Mountains Vietnam Veterans & Associated Forces Inc
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