I have had enough
of the war.
It is going badly,
as all wars do.

I have had enough
of shaking
ash off tree limbs
into my garden.

I have had enough
of unknown
children’s faces looking
in my house.

I have had enough
of their deaths,
wan bodies breeding
ties familiar.

This is what war does:
warm blood turns
cold, and life turns in
a reptile’s eye.

Warwick McFadyen