Where were you the day she came? the rain, to wash away our fear and folly you told us to believe, so we saw what you saw, nothing no farmer lost amongst the dust no open mouths without a sound no fog of grey decay, lingering Our eyes were blinded by the prize cheap, plastic toys long discarded an ease to travel, fast to destinations now lost lives enriched by cheaper costs time saved, drank more, worked more, ate more talked less The answers lay, cupped in our hands, but as always, we knew best they pleaded, begged for us to stop, we replied with higher walls taller towers, until the screams became shadows impotent as we hacked and chopped men possessed on poisoned lands until all, took its toll The wheat grew thin the cattle fell, the tides withdrew, revealed our barren shores under, as always the unforgiving starThe city streets, empty now those long gone, mere footprints save a lucky few worn and tested waiting, hoping for this day the day she breathes again as parched like Lazarus, refreshed the earth, with its tiny shoots believes finally, a new day will dawn
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Paul Horne 