the tv channel returned first
churning out Christmas movies
as the shadows of the forces of destruction
passed over the homes of Gaza
dishing out gifts to children
in the spirit of Herod
the people who could, took flight
to Egypt
next came supermarket Christmas offers
on litre bottles of Bailey’s
as Pyongyang’s young men donned Russian uniform
and took to Kursk’s fatal steppes
to become trapped
like submariners entombed
under the Barents Sea
then, the big question
‘Are you hanging up the stocking on your wall?’
as Lebanon danced to the beat
of rockets and jets
demolishing homes and hospitals
its children taught Life’s lessons
that their parents hoped
had been better learnt
today, the calls of pink-foot geese
descending to the cool calm of a Norfolk broad
leaving East Anglia’s big skies open
to RAF fighter jets patrolling
this island’s eroding edge
~
CLP 02/12/2024
Journey of Words 