Peace Came

When peace came, 

I showered under streaming light 

– Silent, settling – 

Effectuating over all –

The reassurance drunk

From Mother Nature’s breast.

And rays channeled through

The greys of ancient gloom

That paste the hopelessness of 

Dying on the battlefield or

The losing out upon a risk

In love; 

Byes to precious life

(A husband, child, a wife): 

Or failure: 

Crashed careers; bleak depression, 

The fallen – ruined, spurned –

Covered in veneers of rasping blight.

When peace came, a gate begged 

A gentle path inviting me to 

Stroll through verdant fields of spring, 

Bristling with a bouncing life

Of colour; flowers cheering to 

The air ‘We have a chance in nature! ’ 

When peace came, my addled head was

Reconciling, airing, ringing true –

The sense of crushing pressure dead; 

Instead, I flamed a faith anew! 

When peace came, I saw our youth

Inside a multicultural womb; our

Death was pointing to a proud

And glorious tomb engraved with words of 

Freedom for the soul that was when 

Once a body whence it thrived.

When peace came, there happened you – 

A fragrance dancing ‘gainst a new and

Frightened innocence of beauty 

– Eyes ready; slender arms of care – 

A tender skin to be caressed. 

And we were blessed by starting fresh 

In rhythms of pervading warmth; 

Serenity.