"Cracks in the Mirror" Poetry & photography

Soccer all day

Columns of cars, blaring horns through our street,

a football team had won, screaming people wrapped

In long red scarves, although it was a warm night and

ditto silly hats. I witnessed a victory parade. I dislike

football almost as much as I hate war; but since fewer

people get killed during a football skirmish than in

a real war, I gladly tolerate a bit of kicking about.

I could do without the loud noise, sound as air raid

warning and brings back memory of war when bombs

fell from the sky. I sat on mother’s lap, her arms safely

around me, in a cellar that stank of clammy humanity

and dazed terror waiting for the game to end. It did.

Columns of tanks, a military band, flags kissing the sky,

and for one whole day no one bickered about life.