the Cousins' War

All is still since the troops marched through this place

Cousin against cousin, who knew what side to take?

Peace or family name, what’s anyone fighting for?

Blood soaked fields mark the trail through the field

Where they scattered to the four winds

And someone that day was declared the victor.

Can you hear the whisper?

Men lay dying here for days that spring

Who would have thought that kind of violence

Would ever consume their hearts

Rending horses, men and all in their way

Like animals drawn and quartered

Sliced from ear to ear

Never have the trees, witnessed such human rage

Can you hear the crying?

In the wake of all the fighting, at the bitter end

The rain fell for weeks

Like crying from the heavens

Flooding streams and rivers

Soaking the fields, roots and hay

Washing every bit of blood away

The human bane to the new life of spring

Is it the beginning, or the precursor to the end?

Can you hear the echoes of the voices?

A few months pass and summer comes

Fragrant flowers fill the space and air

Vibrant green covers houses as life moves outside

Fearless once more

A memory starting to fade

Wounds almost healed

Nurtured by the sun and fed by the first harvest

Of summer crops

Can you hear the laughter?

Thunder shakes the ground

Forest animals stop in their tracks to listen, and then run

People bolt inside and lock their doors

A thousand troops on horses cross the soft field

Heading west from London

Can you hear the tower bells?

It began a long time ago

A fight through all the ages

Senseless wars for power

Under the banner of “truth”

Can you sense the madness?