Red Lanterns - Kiwi Poet

* ** Red Lanterns,***

* ** First of the month.***

*I sit at Remembrance Park
Levin, New Zealand
in the twilight dark,
staring at red lanterns
glowing in the dark,
taken by this unusual art.
Alone but not forgotten
are soldiers who died a-part
of a means of ending war.
They left for a far-away shore
with hope to return is sure.
Some did, but these did not,
and their sacrifice, red
lanterns glowing in the dark.*

*This remembrance park
is a community taking a part
in honouring citizens who
left their family and friends.
Wars are happening now
the first of the month and
shall not cease until humans
embrace each as friends.
No matter race and creed,
we must endure pain to trust
a man’s word from his heart.*

III

*I pen my thoughts in the dark
having had no part in war
as these red lanterns glow
a remembrance with art,
while these did have a part,
they shall never be apart!*

Stephen Douglas