Photograph of a bike memorial created for victims of a Nov. 2 terrorist attack‘Whenever Terror Strikes’ and Other Poetry by André Le Mont Wilson The Society January 8, 2018 Beauty, Poetry, Terrorism Whenever Terror Strikes Whenever terror strikes, wherever death enshrouds the land, its people live in fright of crowded places. Masses hold their breath. Perhaps another truck will crash tonight. We gather, hand in hand, for loss enshrined or hold aloft the candle’s golden flame. The dripping wax upon our skin in-kind recalls our lives will never be the same. In time, surviving souls absorb attacks and life returns to norm when peace beguiles. Instead of crowding exits, folks relax and force upon their lips distracted smiles. With each attack, our fears emerge again when terror’s guts and gore bestain the slain. O Come Away O come away, O come away today. The water’s warm, the wind is mild, my child. O never stay, O never stay away. The shore adores where sun beguiled has smiled. The waves refill your prints upon the sand. They tug your toes as water ebbs and flows. The salty air embraces souls inland. Inhale, exhale the spell that sparks and grows. A day before the plane departs, you cry and crowd the pier to watch the sun descend into the ocean’s blue beneath the sky. The time arrives when rest achieves an end. Each heart attaches hope and binds a dream to places lovers hold in high esteem. André Le Mont Wilson morphed into a poet, writer, songwriter, and storyteller soon after his parents, both poets, died in 2012 eleven weeks apart, bequeathing him hundreds of poems. He performs around the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives. His essays and poetry have appeared in The New Engagement, Haiku Anthology, Page & Spine, Changing Harm to Harmony, and Wordgathering. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.