The Product of War

By Adam Gibson ©

these rooms lit in the suburbs

where Jessie used to say

we would never live

but now do.

we have moved, stretched,

been to yoga,

we have made decisions involving

cancer and cars,

bought suits from department stores

and dresses from factory outlets.

Jessie, speaking of plans

to have the dog vaccinated, says,

'i just want her to be safe',

and we pause,

look into each other's eye,

and i realise that such a comment

is the product of loss,

it's the product of complacency

and ultimately

the product of war,

fought far enough away

for us to not hear

the bullets and the bombs

but the product of war,

nonetheless.