A Poem by T. Wark

THE RIVER RUNS WARM TODAY

Allah gives us another day of life,

Little One,

Once a blessing, now a curse,

Another day.

I cannot suckle you,

Little One,

My mother's milk is dry.

I cannot succor you,

Little one,

Clasp you to my withered breast

To stifle your cry

For the tumor in your shriveled chest

Would just intensify

Your pain were I

To hold you so.

Little One.

Innocent and good.

The river runs warm today,

Little One.

The river flows with blood.

Terror rains down upon us,

Little One,

The terror from the sky.

Shock and awe

And oh, how fierce the thunder

Around us,

Little One.

Your cries pierce my tortured soul,

Little One,

Who cannot hear his own cries

In bomb-burst ears,

Has never known a day of peace

Or lack of want,

Absence of hunger,

Freedom from pain.

The river runs warm today,

Little One.

The river runs with tears.

Shall the enemy give us respite,

Little One?

Shall the infidel bomb us

With parcels

Of food,

Packets of medicine?

With leaflets, perhaps,

Proclaiming love

And peace

And brotherhood?

Welcome your conquerors!

Love thine enemy!

Welcome the victors!

The river runs warm today,

Little One.

Let us go there now,

Let us go to the river

To die.

--Tom Wark