by G. R. Kramer
all across the road
blood of butchered root in cracks
seed of black spring bloom
weapon
below white flowers
we lie with the fray of bees
nowhere people are
child
mir meant peace to both
when trees leafed over laughter
now stumps stand their ground
explosive
see how the flies help
keep down the odor of rot
old men in ditches
witness
may the good endure
tanks missiles sunflowers plows
may the lost return
annihilate
family stained red
parlor tatters open sky
empty sniper eyes
artillery
war machines rust out
wind blown blood loam covers steppe
lily bulbs open
memory
when do nations live
empires feed death to their dead
human history
for get ting
mothers of soldiers
whose blood drains to the black sea
mothers of soldiers
G. R. Kramer grew up in Canada, Kenya and the U.S., the child of refugees from fascism and communism. A lawyer by vocation, his passion for writing poetry has rekindled in late middle-age. His first poetry chapbook is forthcoming from Finish Line Press and he has published in numerous journals.