Of Haiti and Other Wars
Dark soldier at attention near the sea
A tear, like sudden blood,
Down sweat and flesh and the teeth of strangers
Through bullets and the barrels of loaded guns
Blood, like a frightened lizard
Through his window in the night,
A sky the colour of corbeaux
And tears that flow to a fretful, reckless sea
Dark soldier came here, a stranger, when the moon was low and
Mocking distance from this dry and shattered land
Lying beautiful and broken like first sex
Her smile the shape of an unfinished dream
He came here when the day was night and the night was blind
Planes the shape of vultures over scalded hills
Smoke the smell of scabs greets them as they arrive
He stands at attention near the sea and in his tears
Strangers presenting alms of food and cameras
Strangers from across the way
Strangers through his window in the night
Strangers from familiar lands
Dark soldier at attention near the sea
A castaway on broken ground
Bullets, blood and breakfast
She smiles at him, turns away and goes to sleep
poem by Wesley Gibbings
Added by Poetry Lover
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