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“In the dark times. Will there also be singing?"

When the locust plague has overrun the crops, and the plague has torn through bodies,
when pestilence and war have had their fill.
The Italians dance on balconies and the British clap in doorways
Will there be singing still?

When we can no longer greet our neighbours
Or tightly hold our friends
Will we remember the soft touch of comfort
Will there be singing at the end?

When the lamb turned lion opens seals
and chaos is freed to reign
with our eyes set on sword, famine, wild beasts and plague,
Will we hear the singing again?

Poseidon’s seafoam creations carry our demise
Creation’s four inverted
We can sing but we will wonder
Which will be our final verses.

Famine’s hooves on earth well-trod he visits countries oft’
His black horse troughs through the non-arable ground
and though our stomachs may gurgle and scoff
Our voices are much more pleasant for sound.

When sword-slain soldiers lay bereft
and war-torn villages join in death
soft-footed children cry over wrinkled faces
it is they who’ll sing with final breath

I meet her sigh with tear tracked eyes,
And weary death offers a hand
I begin to protest I had so much to do
With my life, so much was planned

I ask her if I was permitted last words
and then she nods in answer
A teary tune escapes my lips as I ask her
Will there still be singing after?

She moves her finger to tilt my chin
And wipes away stray tears
with a mothering smile, she parts her lips
‘Of course, there will be singing my dear’

Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Last few words: 
A poem based on the quote In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing About the dark times. – Bertolt Brecht, motto to Svendborg Poems, 1939
Editing stage: 

Comments

until after the fifth verse, that you started to rhyme all the lines! Not that it is a big problem, it doesn't detract in any way from the whole. Just a little something that I noticed. So nice to see you posting. I suppose that you have more time now, as do most of us. Nice job! Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

yes
singing relieves
all tensions
as SINGING IS NEUTRAL

A good write there, though the poem seemed to be in two parts.
I think it needs a tidy ups of line length and possibly rhyme.
But I cant speak as it must be a family trait lol.
Great to see you here again I expect the virus calls many to do other things apart from Singing..
Take care young Lady and know we love you loads,
Yours as always, Bampy, xxx

Words can build a nation

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