Kia Kaha

I was sitting
at the benchtop
watching TV
during lunch
when I saw
a politician
give a speech.

She was talking
of the terror
of danger
and of death
of a lone wolf
who would suffer
due to no-one
but himself.

He had traipsed
into a mosque
and opened fire
on the throng
shedding fear
and loathing
on the town.

He had trained
he had taught himself
to maim the many –
innocents them all
respecting
their religion
during prayer.

Come pray with me
come pray with me
grant wisdom faith
and bless
lives cut short –
such futility
in death.

How and why
oh why oh why
had it come to this?

A quiet township
strewn by violence –
terror in extreme
what brought you here
(barely to be seen)?

Disaster
ruined daylight
a blackened
sickened soul.

Oh Christchurch
dear beloved
Kia Kaha
one and all.

----------------

In memory of the fallen
at the hand of utter evil.
Christchurch, New Zealand
15th March, 2019
(our friends, our family)