The War: A Poem by Tisya Hariharan

The war is over, the armies have left.

But more than bodies are left behind.

A life half lived, an empty dream, and a broken soul all you may find.

If you look close, past the battlefield, into the hearts of those passed on,

You will see, there is much more to a soldier than what meets the eye,

More than bravery, more than brawn,

A whole life they left at home, heading off to the war, the war.

The sweet smell of a summer sea,

The sight of children climbing a tree,

Well baked cookies left on the tray,

A birthday party on the fourth of May.

All simple pleasures, not allowed anymore.

The seed of a happy life, not allowed to grow.

And war is still spreading around this world,

A dark storm, raining down, stifling hope’s bright glow.

But still, there remains light behind the darkness.

A hot wax candle melting fast in our hands.

We hold the chance for a better future,

For those who died in war, we must make amends.

We hold the sunshine in the storm, 

We hold the stars in the dark night sky,

We hold the rainbow in the rain,

We hold the wings of a world that can’t fly.

So, arm in arm, let us spread that sunshine, those stars, that rainbow, those wings.

Arm in arm, let us bring peace to our planet.