Jaffna

• Breman Janarthanan, Grade 8
• Poetry
• 2007

The dusty streets of the city,
Only the distant bombers can be heard.
The residents,
Trapped like mice in their boxes,
Terrified of what none of you will ever see.
The once abundant, green city like a heaven,
Turned into hell.

Inside one of the dilapidated huts,
A family starves,
But a young, brave boy comes out,
Shivering with fear.
A loud barking voice
Beckons him inside,
But he cannot make sense of it.
Bang!
He is no more.
One of many whom
Live death and only after death,
Live peace.