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The Tragedy Unfolds
by Sonia Levy (South Africa/Israel)
Devastation, conflagration,
Abomination, a contagion.
In my ears the sad refrain,
The living with the dead remain.
Wild-eyed widows, stones for pillows,
Mud, blood, dirt and flies,
Fools are falling with the wise.
Play the game, roll the dice,
Will the Piper pay the price?
Choke, smoke ˗ battle zone,
For your sins you must atone.
Advance, retreat,
Success, defeat, success, defeat,
And then repeat.
Gangling gunner, robot, drone,
Heading for the great unknown.
Poor, rich and underclass
Take the hill and mountain pass.
Far across the grassy field,
Blind belief their only shield.
Some are gutless, some are bold.
Watch the tragedy unfold.
Stretcher bearers, doctors, nurses,
Sensitive to groans and curses,
Brothers, sisters and their mothers
Weep for faithful friends and lovers.
In my ears the sad refrain,
The living with the dead remain.
Abomination, a contagion.
In my ears the sad refrain,
The living with the dead remain.
Wild-eyed widows, stones for pillows,
Mud, blood, dirt and flies,
Fools are falling with the wise.
Play the game, roll the dice,
Will the Piper pay the price?
Choke, smoke ˗ battle zone,
For your sins you must atone.
Advance, retreat,
Success, defeat, success, defeat,
And then repeat.
Gangling gunner, robot, drone,
Heading for the great unknown.
Poor, rich and underclass
Take the hill and mountain pass.
Far across the grassy field,
Blind belief their only shield.
Some are gutless, some are bold.
Watch the tragedy unfold.
Stretcher bearers, doctors, nurses,
Sensitive to groans and curses,
Brothers, sisters and their mothers
Weep for faithful friends and lovers.
In my ears the sad refrain,
The living with the dead remain.
Ruth Abraham (Israel): Great poem - the horrors of war forge ahead at a rolling pace. I've followed Sonia Levy's poetry for some time now. Always surprised, always something new in her words and the way she puts her poems together. I wait for more of them.
Sonia Levy responds: I will try not to disappoint you. Thanks for your encouraging comment.
Richelle Shem-Tov (South Africa/Israel): Great poetry . One of Sonia's best!
Jill Sadowsky (South Africa/Israel): Your poems get better and better, Sonia. Am waiting for the next one.