The Sounds

by Chris Pepple – 2017

The sounds of the words of hate

came first—

the name calling

the threats both aloud and

whispered to a passerby…

Then it was the fighting

in the streets—

the fist fights among

different groups

then knives

then guns…

Then it became real,

turning hate into a war—

winner keeps all…

The shelling came next…

the bombs rocked our houses

and our schools and places of worship…

No place was safe…

Then came the cries of children

and mothers calling out the names

of children who would

never answer again…

and husbands and brothers and

and wives and sisters

and best friends and lovers…

Then the weeping before

the enormity of our pain

devoured our ability

to feel much less grieve…

So there was silence

as if we were already dead—

dead to those who claimed victory,

worthless to those who didn’t want

to touch our wounds or

caress our shoulders weighted

with unimaginable memories

of the sounds of the places we left—

the places we once called home…

©2017 Chris Pepple