Death and the City

The night before she was born

We saw a star fall from the sky

And all the birds seemed to call

Her name, as we passed by

Shrill song creeping through flaming trees

The land alight,

The night before we first saw

Our child.

As she grew, the sun began to wane

Weak in the morning mist

No longer able to reach through the smog

And comfort the young, and guide us

Through the day

And as she grew, so too the shadow

Of a future snatched away

From our child.

You broke into our home

The night she died, and took our child

And poured petrol into her lungs

And blackened her eyes

And stifled her cries; you said:

“Just another death in the city.”

And so we left, and carried our child

Back into the wild.

© Copyright David Marriott  all rights reserved­.