"Death March" A Poem by V.G. Grace

Birds soar across the sky--
 
freedom coveted,
 
while bruised skin struggles with the endless line.
 

Exhalations explode
 
from bodies trodding to destruction,
 
while the children of corruption 

suffer upon the children of pain.
 

Sanctuary learns to be lost.
 
Love goes to hell.
 
Despair rules in darkness.
 
Survival becomes religion.   


Misery belongs to the endless moment,
 
and 

tragedy replaces the prayer.   


They have searched for salvation 

but hearts have yet died ages ago.
 

They have yearned for promise,

but promise was yet slaughtered ages ago.


 
Uniforms beneath glittering suns 

hold poison flesh;
 
eyes pools of black,
 
mercy an adversary,
 
hatred the god they serve.
 

Spirits weep after death
 
in bitter lamentations--
 
how they weep!

 
Torture of the innocent go on in spirals--
 
how they cry!

   
The march slides into sky.

The march carries memory.

The march bleeds through time.


 
Oh, how the world must know,
 
oh, how the world must mourn,
 
oh, how the world must remember.