“Put that light out”, would come a voice of thunder

from outside on the street, “Don’t you know

there’s a war on?”

You couldn’t answer back

by saying I know my rights, but I need to see,

how am I supposed to do this, that, and a bit of the other

if my lights aren’t glaring, lighting up the streets…

any way I don’t believe there is danger

up in the skies, I think you are over

reacting, jumped up little Hitler,

that sound above

is just far off thunder

and to be honest

I don’t know anyone who has died… it’s all a scam…

The enemy is here, it might not be wearing jackboots,

pointing a pistol in your face

and asking to see your papers…your excuse to live,

it isn’t evil, not in that sense of the word,

but it wants you dead

it wants to burn you,

see you suffer

see you sick

see you no more…

Be like Dad

and keep Mum

safe…

don’t let the light

be turned off

a final time

as you slowly slip away.

Ian D. Hall 2020