When a Child is Bombed

A rescued Boko Haram child suicide bomber

When a child is bombed

The basis for rejoicing is stolen

The sound of laughter is stilled

Or it falls flat like the cackles of Gollum

On the eardrum making the sense of loss emphatic.

When a child is bombed

There's always an untold story erupting

Within calling out things forbidden to imagine.

A restlessness which amps up the fears of all the years

Confronts our doubts and strips bare our worst nightmares.

When a child is bombed

The weight of a shroud alights and grief is pronounced

As we recall 'tis the season the Christ-child came down.

Peace and goodwill become the substance of a fairytale

And our Xmas wish lists are like statements of how we failed.

Akpan