ABSTRACT FACES

Faces
     unseeing
          unknowing
they lie
     bruised 
          crushed and
               bleeding
at the bottom 
     of a muddy trench
          with the stench
of death
     all around - 
What a waste
     of lives

Someone's
     husband
          father
               son
                    brother 
                         fiancé 
courageous 
     brave and 
          heroic

Tears roll
     down the faces
          of those 
who loved them
     but will
          never see them again and
 never had 
     the chance
          to say
Goodbye

The freedom 
     they fought for 
          is real
               not abstract
freedom from fear 
     injustice and
          bigotry
freedom 
     to choose 
          to act and
               to speak out
We will 
     remember and
          honour them
with love
     sadness   
          respect and
               gratitude

But the question is
     "Was it all worth it?"

© Maureen Iles 10/11/2016