Drums in ears
throb
with the unsteady beat of
broken hearts – 
hearts putting hope in 
comforting lies
and 
empty encouragements. 
How long will
the children suffer
thirst
hunger
and
illusions of love, 
promising 
water
bread
and 
sanctuary? 

The saddest part – 
we don’t even know
we are broken. 

*With thanks for Paul Clark’s poem: This Is What Struggle Sounds Like