noise

no shops are handy
these days - we have to
drive to the places
to get things we need

this time, near Edinburgh,
a feeding frenzy in the
place, loud children,
milling bodies, unpleasant
time of year to be buying

I was glad to turn for
home, tired, after two
days of roads

so much money and stress
overwhelm the tiny
star of hope that came
all those years ago
to point a different way

tiny budding breath
lying in a woman's arms

in a poor place, a place
of occupation, soldiery, terror
on the streets, no choice -
we know all this today
but suffocate all hope of hearing

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