"Only the wearer knows
where the shoe pinches"
Unfortunately
the self-centred societies
don't care about them
Consequently
their sufferings are being unnoticed
The increasing rate of refugees
is aggravated by violence.

how do I write about the beauty of the world
when barefoot people pass before my window
in search of shelter

how do I share my pleasure of the birds' sweet song at dawn
when I see faces etched with panic
from deafening blasts of bombs

how to rejoice in love and friendship
when meeting people who could barely save their lives
after burying their loved ones

how can I write with passion of the kindness of the human heart
when I see thousands fleeing from the ruins of their homes
only to face police   walls   barbed wire

true words are hard to find
as said a poet of an older war

    when it is a lie to speak
    a lie to keep silent

not easy

You want to know the state of America?
I know a twenty-five year old Syrian male
Getting grey hairs
From all the stress
He has endured.

THE SYRIAN REBELS HAVE
USED A CHEMICAL ATTACK
CIVILIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
WERE UNDER THE RACK


A CHEMICAL WEAPON WAS
USED ON THE INNOCENT CHILDREN
THE BRUTAL REALITY OF THE CIVIL WAR
MAY NEVER REACH A CONCLUSION


A PLACE OF HEALING AND AN AIRSTRIKE
WAS LAUNCHED ON A HOSPITAL
WHAT AN ATROCITY AND DISGRACE
HOW COULD THIS BE POSSIBLE


A NERVE AGENT ATTACK BY
THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT
THE WORLD IS DISCUSSED


THE U.N. THE WORLD LEADERS
SHOULD STOP THIS ATROCITY
RETALIATION IS A MUST

Look.
Look again.
Don't avert your eyes.
Don't keep scrolling.

A boy alone on a beach.
A product of the dry cheeks of Westminster.

Let the image burn.
Burn until you can't escape it.
Burn until it consumes you.
Until it's all you can picture,
until you finally regain a pulse.
Let the sirens inside you begin as you look,
Let the fire of sadness and anger tear through your veins as you look,
Feel your heart pour out into the image as you look,
Picture his mother, childless as you look,
Picture this thousands and thousands times more as you look,
And keep looking...

N.Hedges