A Refugee Family

 

Huddled together in trembling

a darkened room as their only abode

hidden beneath the floor

of a shell marked building above

No light save a flickering candle

clasping each other as detonations

sounded like knocks on hell´s door

Rockets above, the sirens of doom

the attrition of hell s war had broken loose

a nearby thud and the building shook

The girl shaking uncontrollably

the boy whimpered, comforted by his father

Mother with her face buried in her hands

The onslaught continued as Satan´s chargers

raced by in chariots of unbridled hate

The Banshees of the underworld given their day

Destruction reigned supreme in a crumpled city

the family cowered in fear, alert for the call of death

Would deliverance come?

A drop of water as if from a golden well

a morsel of food delicately eaten

A fetid odour permeated their refuge

which offended their very souls

Dignity had abandoned their plight

It was neither day nor night

time was held in abeyance like a broken clock

The earth shook and heaved on a fault line of evil

Distant screams pedalled more the sense of panic

The father awash with a plethora of anguish and tears

over saw the misery of those he held dear

Would deliverance come, hope appear

or was this nightmare the prelude to finality?

A huge explosion, an alarming odour

The candle flickered, a void of darkness consumed all

No longer shapes or sounds

The door opened and light with dust poured in

They were leaving

Hope surged as a gazelle leaps for joy

Escape, a journey, but to where?