dreams descend
into the night
death breaks out
with the dawn
abandon hope
when you wake
dance upon
the broken ground

evening sings
its hateful song
white flags turn black
while kettles brew
and hatred dives
down from the skies
and feasts: a wake
in mourning’s dew

*there will be gathered the vultures

©2022 by Darryl Willis

This evening over here is
their morning over there. Father,
please protect them in their day
as we close our eyes tonight.
In our restless sleeping, would
you allow our dreams of peace
to rise like holy incense burning?
And when we wake up in the dark
let the names of our dear ones
be in our hearts and on our tongues.

Hear our prayers, Father God.
Grant them safety and escape;
rescue them and save them from
the evil one and evil done by men.
And let your kingdom come — that is,
your will be done on Earth and in
Ukraine. Your will be done right here
and now as it is done in heaven.
Your kingdom is the rule of love,
Veemyay Isusa Christa, Amin

© Darryl Willis, April 2022

для Саша, Марина, Костя

good morning in the evening
i wish you joy in the weeping

i will not end my watch this night

in the middle of my grieving
when i fall into sleeping

silent prayers recite

what news will greet me in the dawning
eyes are heavy from the mourning
heart is filled with voiceless longing
a cry for peace and justice turning

to set the world to right

©2022 Darryl Willis

March 2, 2022

Ashes descending, float down from the sky.
They rise again from earth below,
caught within the burning breezes
encircling and burning — consuming our homes.

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust,
we lay our broken bodies down,
tired and worn in crowded spaces:
the mass graves beneath our towns.

This is the day for us to turn
from darkness that hides within our hearts;
to recognize that all have sinned
and will return once more to the earth.

Today we require no bowls of ash,
for when we woke, it covered our heads.
Now we trace the cross with our tears
and weep for the living and for the dead.

© Darryl Willis, March 2, 2022