Ash Leaves Fell Around Them
Song After the WarI saw your mother standing at the gate.
Your father stood beside her, in solitude and debt.
Ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
The morning died a slow death. They turned and went inside.
Your father built a fire to ease your mother�s mind.
And ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
In the old town, past library, school, and trains,
I saw your mother standing at the gate.
Your father knelt beside her to tend your silent grave.
Ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
The evening died a slow death. They turned and went inside.
Your father built a fire to ease your mother�s mind.
And ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
In the old town, past library, school, and trains,
I saw your mother standing at the gate.
Your father stood beside her, to shoulder her regret.
Ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
The season died a slow death. They turned and went inside.
Your father built a fire to ease your mother�s mind.
And ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
In the old town, past library, school, and trains,
I saw your mother standing at the gate.
Your father could not find her, stood all alone and wept.
Ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
Your mother died a slow death. They turned and went inside.
Your father built a fire to ease your mother�s mind.
And ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
In the old town, past library, school, and trains,
I saw a stranger standing at the gate.
My sorrow knelt beside him, to tend your useless grave.
Ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
The stranger died a slow death. I turned and went inside.
My sorrow built a fire to ease your mother�s mind.
And ash leaves fell around them, soft and yellow-spent.
March 31, 2005
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Also by William Michaelian
POETRY
Winter Poems
ISBN: 978-0-9796599-0-4
52 pages. Paper.
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Another Song I Know
ISBN: 978-0-9796599-1-1
80 pages. Paper.
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