He had that look, the empty, lonely,

   Futility-of-war look.

He tried to look at me,

   But there was nothing in his eyes.

Empty…emptier than skies

   Without a dawn….

   Or even a hope of dawn.

Without a cry, where the only word,

   Even among the stars, is goodbye.

Where are the other words? Are there any

   In the evensong of birds?

Will no one say, peace….home…...soon

   Tomorrow…?

Are the cries white?….black?….bearded?

   or turbaned?

Is it Allah among the rocks?

   Or Jesus, where he bleeds?

Is it in caves or in front of friends

   That he weeps?

What dread voice sent him here?

   Is he dying for a mistake?

Oh, please God, not for a mistake.

   Then he closed his eyes.