we just talked about
——-tomatoes and strawberries
no one mentioned missiles
——-or hostages or
the slow tearing up of a nation

no one said
the streets are empty
the skies full of war

we talked about ripeness
about sweetness
how fruit softens in the heat

no one said
bodies soften too
under fire

we talked about markets
about prices
how the season is changing

no one said
the season is war
the price is blood

 

*

From Magma 94

 

Buy this issue for £8.50 in UK (including P&P) »Buy Now