The Words We Leave Unsaid Poem by Chris Zachariou

Five sat around the table
last year
eating ice cream and apple pie
but in between the laughter
and the sips of wine
silence fell and talked so loud
with all the words we left unsaid.

Once the road seemed so long
a new adventure in each twist
and every turn
city walls with iron doors
with parapets and citadels to burn.

Soldiers of the revolution
we stormed the rusty gates
Che posters in the bedsits
Afghan coats and silver bells.

How short the road is now.
The drum of war no longer beats
and the old walls still standing strong.
The ancient flag still flying on the turrets
and our wrecked and ruined armies
lie in tatters at the city doors.

Four sit around the table
this year
eating ice cream and apple pie.
But in between the laughter
and the sips of wine
silence falls and talks so loud
with all the words we leave unsaid.