Bombing

The bomb ticked with silent threat
As the fuse was lit from a distance.
You and I at opposite ends stood
With increasingly weaker resistance.

The fuse grew short, I expected that.
It was natural, it was right,
It had to occur.

Agonizing, demoralizing, tantalizing,
Us despising the tension rising
With each inch of string the spark devoured,
As the bomb pulled away and cowardly cowered.

Then it happened, the brightest of lights,
Like a firework in the sky, exploding
With jagged shards of brilliant illumination.
Except this firework was no joyous sight,
Yet I'm sad to say it gave me delight
To see the very human fright
That tore across your face and into the night.
Everything changed with that mighty crack,
As we were surrounded by a beautiful black.

Now the sky filled with sad debris-
The hopes, the dreams of you and me.

And still we stand at opposite ends
Staring coldly at the other's unchanging face,
And still we mumble words of care
With intentions good and pure,
But that bomb has rendered us numb
Of the feelings those words once did stir.