Fight or Flight

The house was irreparably damaged,
It was impossible, even, to walk on the floor,
There was seemingly nothing left to salvage,
Our possessions were reduced to casualties of war...


I wanted retribution -
For our way of life had just been disseised;
What'd taken years to build was gone in a matter of seconds,
And no consolation could take away that grief.


We heard yelling in the distance,
As the ground beneath us began to rumble,
I thought to myself, "Now - this is my chance!"
Starting in the direction of the battle.


But before I could leave,
I heard an earnest voice cry out to me:
"Don't leave us - possibly bereaved -
Just to add your blood to the brood of enmity."


She continued, "Another home we could easily erect,
But you, my love, I cannot resurrect...
You could go and get your retribution,
Only to return to a home still in ruin -
It's not worth it - I say, reverse the face of your direction."


And like a subordinate to his superior,
I duly honored her ukase,
Turning round to her,
Into the open arms of an embrace -
I realized then I couldn't jeopardize my future,
Even more so when I felt my children tightly hugging my waist.


Our raw outpouring was interrupted by a salvo,
And we all knew that we had to go,
So we fossicked for non-perishable goods in the debris -
Anything that would sustain us for the impending journey,
Fighting back tears of sorrow while loading up the buggy...


Away we went with the pieces that remained,
Headed a million miles north...
Not to return ever again.




- Kevin B. Waring




"The end marks a new beginning"