THERE’S A BRIDGE ON THE ROAD – NO WATER – JUST SAND

There’s a bridge on the road – no water – just sand
There’s dust on the road and a giant weed-choked well

A crematorium? That too –
Those lying shrouded on the biers
Have left for work in the outskirts, pushing their cannon-carts

Was that a sudden breeze? An exhalation of packed-in straw?

I lean into the bomb craters, the graves and see
Babies, their mothers’ hands clamped across their orphan mouths.

THERE’S A BRIDGE ON THE ROAD – NO WATER – JUST SAND