Are you fan of Abby's work? Then let them know! Be sure to put their name, your email, title of their work in the subject, and your message so they can see your comment!

The Homefront

War lives too close to home.
War is home, it lives next door,
and waves to people from the window,
and drives a red Mustang,
and walks their dog twice a day,
and is a member of the PTA at their child’s school.

War has people over for dinner parties,
serving wine red as blood and
pre-packaged refugee meals to those who stop by.

Everyone in the neighborhood knows War.
The Homeowner’s Association has filed complaint
after complaint,
but none are brave enough to truly engage.

Parents warn their children,
when you play outside, don’t go near War’s house,
remembering the stories of all the boys
Who went near War and never returned.
The children stay on the other end of the street,
any toys left too close to War’s yard abandoned,
because they know better
than to play with fire.

War watches them from the window,
and decides to let them play in peace
for a moment longer,
to come home one more time.
Not because war is merciful,
but because war is unpredictable.
War can strike at any time,
and war lives too close to home.

Abby Kane