War Wears Two Faces

War Wears Two Faces

The day after the war
they packed the bombs in boxes
recalled drones to their nests
summoned tanks to silence 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 the cottage
planted tea roses in the back garden 

	to replace those that died