Years of ridiculous hiding
Beautiful City under fire.
Relentless snipers
Up in those hills
Of menace.
Everyone kept indoors.
Empty parks gardens
College and concert hall.
Senior educations continuing
In underground garages
And basements.
Tuesday was bakery day
Thursday was jobs
In leather factory
And in gutted
City Hall offices.
Treacherous open-air walks
From tree to tree
Post to post
Abutments at random.
Neighbour Vladmir
Got shot in the shoulder.
Hospital had been reduced
By sweet old Anna
In her apartmment.
Potluck medical supplies
Trickling in.
Today father was on
The firewood crew
Gathering the raw stuff of warmth
And light and confidence.
Two children sharing a jigsaw
Colouring books were next.
Daddy was missed.
Mother suspended her laundry
From balcony rails.
Only bright colour for blocks.
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