Aleppo

After the last bomb

who will remember past pride?

Who will be told stories of greatness?

Young men are dead,

or fled, their ears deaf

to old men’s memories.

Rippling ribbons weave

along cratered roads.

Women, children, searching –

for anything…

Magnificent once, a city crumbled

beneath their feet.

Headless men, flesh and stone,

testament to unspeakable

demons of devastation.

Ancient history violated

never to be revived –

today a stain

never to be wiped away.

In memory of the fallen,

rise phoenix-like,

hope, your standard

borne high, defiant

against vile enemies.

 

©christinenedahljanuary2nd2017