Junction Box

sitting here at the junction box
of war and peace and flowing waters
hearing the soundtrack of bush haven
hearing the dawn bugle the flyover the kōrero the silence
searching in the manukā for remedy cables
mourning every raised weapon every sacrifice
every empty stomach displaced refugee every cruel act
the weasel words from weasel politicians
jamming our children in square learning boxes
slamming our hospitals in low voltage budgets
cramming our planet in polluted circuits extinction coils
feeling in this breaking dawn the connecting calls for peace
picturing protest placards holding voices of resistance past and present
picturing aid workers risking life to nurse and feed and shelter
picturing a global jigsaw puzzle of greed and smash and grab
for how long have we imagined peace have we called for peace
for how long have we imagined blue sky transformation
today we are standing here holding our currents of hope
and yes today we are joining in calls for peace calling calling calling

25 April 2025
Paula Green