A Village Scene..... Poem by RIC BASTASA

the little boy is climbing a guava tree.
a bunch of ripe yellow guavas are hanging in one of the branches.
the sky is blue at 10 o'clock in the morning.
some feathery clouds pass by.
a sparrow hovers on the banana leaf and looks at the little boy
with fear.

and then the war between the rebels and the government troops begins.
series of fire shots and explosions. the villagers run for their lives. there will be many casualties.

one of those who will become another number is the little boy who climbs the guava tree.

the ripe guavas fall on the soil, run over by the fighting men.