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Poetry & Stories by

Rebekah Humphrey-Bullen

Oh How the Bodies Did Burn

 

Oh how the bodies did burn
As they prayed for the end
But we will never learn

Each burning body in turn
Beyond capacity to mend
Oh how the bodies did burn

For peace and love we yearn
Yet the weak we will not defend
Why will we never learn

Some believe this is what we earn
It never happened, others pretend
But how the bodies did burn

Piles of bodies, no one can discern
As the piles of bodies blend
Yet will we ever learn

Is it any of our concern
What happens to our poorer friend
Oh how the bodies will burn
Unless we learn

 

Rebekah Humphrey-Bullen

 

   ...is a screenwriter and poet who dabbles in prose. She's a private tutor in both English and mathematics, and also an owner & CEO of LittleStreams - a company which makes resources for learning.

Conversion

 

The children were screaming

Tears running from eyes

As they were ripped from their parents

Soldiers ignored their cries

For they weren’t worth the hassle

Those who were ‘uncivilised’.

 

The women were violated

And though they fought

Every soldier took his turn

At every female they sought.

Of course, these were heathen women

So their lives and dignity, meant nought.

 

Men had their throats slit

Or were hung from the tree

Their bodies left rotting

Left for all to see

A warning to the ‘barbarians’

Convert to Christianity

 

Father watch rape of daughter

Anger surges, but nothing he can do

Mother torn from her precious boy

As he sees the horror too.

The annihilation of a race of people

Is this alright with you?

 

Rebekah Humphrey-Bullen

 

The Father

(a Kyrielle sonnet)

 

What made the father kill his son?

He claimed alcohol was his bane.

The lord watched the suffering of a little one,

Was he lonely, was he in pain?

 

The mother wondered how and why.

The man must be insane.

All the mother could do was think and cry

Was he lonely, was he in pain?

 

The father burned them both alive.

He cracked, it seemed, because of the strain.

Holding his son in his arms as they died

Was he lonely, was he in pain

 

What made the father kill his son?

Was he lonely, was he in pain?

 

Rebekah Humphrey-Bullen

The Bringer of Death

 

It is not in my nature

But it’s my purpose and desire.

I was forged from the earth’s minerals

And shaped by the fire.

 

Carefully, my head is laced with cloth,

My back is purposefully curved.

Markings, individual, chosen by my master.

It’s more than I deserved.

 

Majestically I am wielded,

Gliding through the air.

Yet seeing who lives and dies

My duty seems unfair.

 

Slicing through skin and muscles,

Cutting through human bone.

Battle rages, people dieing,

Until my master is alone.

 

I am built for brutal means.

Man made me to kill.

I was beaten into submission,

And act against my will.

 

He searches for new battle,

Yet finds more than he does seek.

Battle is lost, he is dishonoured,

For my master, it seems, is weak.

 

For his wish, I must betray him,

No will, I must comply.

In his mission, he has failed,

And now by my body he must die.

 

It is not in my nature,

But it’s my purpose and desire.

Since I was born to bring death.

From man’s created fire.

 

Rebekah Humphrey-Bullen

Unless stated otherwise, all content on this page remains Copyright © Rebekah Humphrey-Bullen 2016 All Rights Reserved

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