hold keep
wild battering storms
peace in madness forsaken
hold keep the dark ground
cold blood of battle
soldiers perishing in fear
brutality’s heirs
the stonecutter’s knife
sharp peals of women keening
wraiths joining the dead
rueful divine hearts
strive to earn absolution
bring out the builders
the gift of green fields
shimmering inconstant peace
our gracious fortune
4 thoughts on "hold keep"
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Wow. Such beautiful sounds—I had to read it aloud to myself. It’s so complete and concise of war and its madness, yet with hope.
Yes Michele, madness with hope. I like the pared down form, the universal voice.
I enjoyed two readings: the first down the page as you wrote it, and the second from bottom up. I enjoyed the wisdom of both…
Reading it bottom up is such an amazing idea. Thank you so very much for it.