Poem #1288: Hand From A Stranger

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This ain't no fairytale

But it does make

The dam break

It's the stuff you see

On CNN and BBC

And flip the channel

Before it gets too personal

We can't back down

From this urgency of now

We've got to man up,

We that love to love

Must mobilize as one

Against the elements of war

By wielding the weapon

Of compassion

From our heart of hearts

Until we tear apart

The memory of the past

A bit of love turns misery

Into the processing

Of a beautiful story

Like a warm hand

From a stranger

In the dark of night,

Be the shining light

In their turnaround moment

A shade of hope, a respite

From the cruel torment.

Akpan