from a photograph taken during the Vietnam War
Once there was a war
Once there was a girl
Who ran away in fear
And down her cheek a tear
She wore no clothes at all
Behind her was a pall
Of darkness in the sky
That made her run and cry
She wore fear on her face
For she was in a race
To leave the burning town
With people falling down
By wayside, road and field
Bombs bursting what they tilled
With smoke and fire behind
Set off by men so blind
Who could not see that war
Had burned the running girl.
2007 & 2011
