Women, Children, Ice cream, Balloons,
excitement, enticement, sonic booms…
Shattered Streets limb festooned,
righteous entitlement, lives marooned.
SSAFA, Poppies, Medals, Flags,
Hot Dogs, Slushies, Corporate bags…
Red Cross, Crescent, ID Tags,
No Parent Present, Body Bags.
Smiles, Cheering, Pride and Joy,
Roaring Engines, Replica Toy…
Crying, Screaming, Girl and Boy,
Crumbled Ruins, Lives Destroyed.
Contracts Signed, Agreements Made,
Champagne Taken, Anthems Played…
Pits Deep Dug, a Grim Parade,
No Graveside Hug no Love Displayed.
Airshow, No-Show, Mass Murder Sale,
Our Bloody hands Beyond the Pale…
Bombed out Cities, Dollar Shrines,
The Mausoleum’s of our time.