Poem: Memory

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When you told me the story
I could see the fire in your eyes.
How do you live with those memories?
How do you push all that
to the back of your mind
and move to another land
where you’re hated and vilified
simply for being who you are,
by people who have no idea
of what happened to you,
to your family who you left behind –
dead in the city which was once your home

copyright Francis Barker 2019

Haiku: Sorry

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Sorry so sorry
this weary world would not stop
Take me anywhere

copyright Francis Barker 2019

Poem: Homeless

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The chilling chords reverberate
around this cathedral space
There are never any words
yet always you deny my place
my expression of love and peace
and truth –
to accuse me of the traits you exude in floods
Yes I was foolish in my youth
and you saw that as weakness
Now there’s no place that I call home
though a nameless land remains
through which I roam

copyright Francis Barker 2019

Haiku: Narcissus

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Words will break my bones
I must carpet the whole earth
Tainted reflection

copyright Francis Barker 2019

Haiku: Masque

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The earth is a realm
a stage for our passion play
These masques of conflict

copyright Francis Barker 2019