The Messages

As thoughts travel to the battlefront
Expecting messages in replies
They shudder and shiver
By the missing bullets and bombs

Sitting in the balcony
Eyes closed, hair raising
The mere thoughts are disrupted
As they return without any messages

Dead bodies all around
There is no one to deliver the messages
As thoughts gather courage
To see the unforeseen scenario

Tears rolling down the eyes
Clenching fists, folded hands
Pray, pray and pray endlessly
For the messages to arrive

The bullets find their targets
The bombs embrace the bodies
Even before the thoughts could reach again
The messages ultimately arrive from the battlefront

Brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, cousins, nephews, husbands, friends, lovers
There are messages of everyone
Happy thoughts dare the inevitable
Anticipating the messages

They arrive! Yes, they do finally
Wrapped in the flags of the nation
The messages are delivered
With great honour in coffins!


- Johnny D