The mob arrives, loud shouts of hate
A girl hides, behind the gate
“Get out now, one and all…
It’s on the list, this place must fall!”
She runs on out, no time to grab
Louder they shout, it’s looking bad
Destruction starts, loud banging sounds
Things torn apart, neighbors surround.
She runs for shelter, as fast as she can
Away from the smelter, through heavy sand
Fainter the sound, the further she goes
Belongings in a mound, gasoline flows
A spark, it’s lit, fire burns bright
Walls are hit, until just before night
Whew! She escaped, with only clothes on her back
Gangsters like apes, or wolves in a pack
Fire still burning, dust settles down
Stomachs still churning, all over town
Who’d have imagined, in this calm place
Never we fathomed, so much laid waste
Businesses, homes, orphanages charred
Offices combed, churches burned
“Everything loot!”, leaders declared
“Turn it into soot”, treasures laid bare
Rubble, ashes, are all that remain
“And hope, and faith,” believers exclaim.
© Lukas Westevy
2015