The Peloponnesian War

 

With a Bang?

With a Whimper?

How does one face The Future?

Plans made and laid and paid,

The best of plans gone astray.

Hair piles up in the corner

Of the shower and you shiver

To think it is your own. Flit —

These thoughts down the drain.

Brave face skeets into the world

With fresh laundered raiment and tinkly

Bracelets. Little Louis Heels click

Across the Saltillo Tiles with purpose

And gentle might. Down the hall The

Peloponnesians are at it again, but no matter,

Whoever wins this war, they will need dauntless

Soldiers to carry the dead and mend the wounded.

the future

He rang the bell three times

     then four

and three again

it was the sign.

everyone waited

pausing into the stillness

of the blue morning

no birds sang and

insects were still

only the close sounds,

breathing, hearts beating

then at the crest of the brown hill

came the creak of wagons

the dull thuds of oxen plodding

measuring the road towards the town

“they’re coming,” one boy spoke

admonishing eyes turned towards him

and he shut his now trembling mouth

eyes turned back to the road

waiting for their future to arrive.