Kosovo Shepherd

by

Frank Valentyn

Behind him lies the rubble of his youth
name of his home, his tears
name of the struggled years
name of the joys and wondered justices
deeper gains and losses of his ancient years
themselves named collateral target
cloaking dark an overburdened frame
impossible pain on grief-strained features
he walks beyond hoping to sense progress
hunches meagre shoulders against cold
far greater than a coming winter
inclines his head in fate-stricken obeisance
unable to name a witnessing beyond destruction
eyes guiding but unseeing
an unknown destination moulded
by a path of least devastation

Angled in his arm attests his shepherd's crook
summation of a life, gnarled hook
clasped like a babe, a precious wisdom, icon
of direction leading a following of guidance
he is without sheep, this man
carrying a forgotten lamb
through shattered pastures

NEXT?
Why don't you look at Three years on in East Timor
by: Francis Duggan
from: Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

To visit all of Frank Valentyn's poems, click HERE

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