Published in Winter, 2025 issue of Dulcet.

War Wears Two Faces

The day after the war
they packed the bombs in boxes
recalled drones to their nests
summoned tanks to silence their turrets

and come crawling back

Refugees returned home to find none
fathers stared into the rubble of a school
ticking hatred took root in young witnesses
mothers suffocated from the smell of memories

still clinging to clothing

The day after the war
people oceans away

went shopping

networked at conferences
tried that new coffee shop
framed their child’s drawing of their cottage
planted tea roses in the back garden

to replace those that died

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