Will Van Hee- Selected Poems

The Grim Skies 

 

Works of combustion descend the dark air.  

Bright, burning matches destroy the wolves’ lair.  

Figures of wraiths haunt the night sky.  

Rats run past the many who’ve died.  

Worship is heard amidst trembling crowds.  

Stark, singing horrors pierce the low clouds.  

Flies swarm skywards whence daylight returns.  

Spades to fill their ashes in urns…  

 

Shall we use words to halt the grim skies? 

Have we our swords to silence their cries? 

Are we so pure to harbor disdain? 

Innocence lost in history’s name… 

 

All nations gather to speak on behalf.  

While vultures yearn bitter bloodshed to last.  

Despots hide ‘neath ramparts of earth.  

Sadists sneer with sanguinist thirsts.  

Pacifists pout upon guilded floors.  

Fervent youths blow their trumpets of war.  

Bickering councils heed to no law.  

Innocence lost unto the maw…  

 

Shall we use words to halt the grim skies? 

Have we our swords to silence their cries? 

Are we so pure to harbor disdain? 

Innocence lost in history’s name… 

 

 

 ‘25 To ‘45 

 

Pages written for a blind man’s eye / Haunting

hymns from a tone deaf string / Making guilt of

dishonored swine / Passions spoken in raucous

halls / Knives struck out for the hearts of the

weak / Dinner made for a crypt bound king /

Slaves to assemble stitches and seams /

Darkened winters o’er pyres of flame… 

 

Pillars – Pillars – Smoke flown black ash…  

Pillars – Pillars – Their war cries were cast… 

 

Trenches are filled by one’s weeping spade /

Graves of scholars poisoned our dreams / Waves

of red waters crash on the beach / Thunder

descends to smite the dry wood / Exiles ride

through meadows aflame / Stones of worship

cracked at the base / Children flee from the

beasts of the glade / Tyrant lords crushed by

swift gavel’s swing… 

 

Pillars – Pillars – Choking the towns… 

Pillars – Pillars – Their statues torn down… 

 

 

Soldier – Soledar 

 

Wreckage – Plunder 

Cities asunder. 

Heartache – Hunger 

Stark piercing thunder… 

 

Fury – Disdain 

Our far eastern plain. 

Power – Profane 

Our nation aflame… 

 

Soldier – Brother 

My grieving mother. 

Beauty – Lover 

Young voices smothered… 

 

Ceaseless – Shrieking 

Children are weeping. 

Hidden – Seeking 

Phosphorus streaking… 

 

Promise – Demand 

The spiteful command. 

Winter – Wasteland 

The faltering stand… 

 

Skylines – Shadows  

Sign plastered gallows. 

Trenches – Shallow 

Smote meadows fallow… 

 

Rubble – Plunder 

Wreckage asunder. 

Heartache – Lover 

White marble cover…