On the Eve of War

 

I went to a vigil for peace

Tonight I stood solemnly there

To hold up a light in the dark

A circle of strangers becoming my friends

Our separate lights come together

Powerful symbol of what people could be

If we all stopped ignoring each other,

If we all took the time to care

I answered a call I could not deny

I had to stand up for the peace

If anyone heard or denied

Or had different reasons from mine

I still would have stood with my light

I couldn’t help saying to darkness

I believe and have faith in the light

A raindrop splatters against my cheek

another one sizzles against the heat

as in the cold our candles flickered.

One or two of them even blew out

But we lit them again

and protected the flame

so the night would still see our light.

I want to believe, in a circle of friends

That our fragile flames have power to banish the dark