I know beauty.

I know beauty.

I have seen it.

Even in the darkest places.

When light fades,

Swallowed

By the deep,

Beaten by the blackest

Hearts,

A dove flies.

In the aftermath,

When worlds are turned

By the flash

Of camera’s, wielded

Like weapon’s

To frighten children,

With the promise

Of hate

As an unwelcome

Bedfellow.

The pall of death

Is carried in the cloud,

A virtual virus,

Infiltrating lives.

Even as we walk

A plague of images jump

From the screen

Of a tablet.

Carried in the hands

Of a passing stranger.

Distracted,

I turn my eyes away,

And see a robin,

As magically it appears,

Hopping out,

From behind an upturned

Dustbin.

Such a rare thing

On days like these.

It holds my gaze,

So fine a sight,

It touches me.

With a gentleness

That reminds me of

A kiss,

Given in hope

Of a better day,

When light returns,

And a spring sun burns

The last, of this long

Dark winters’

Song away.