across the border...

He stood at the place
A few inches perhaps from the barbed fence
On the other side the pasture was green
To his side no trees could be seen...

The other side had small huts made of wood
And clothesline hung by the poles stood...
To his side there was no population
Only base camps of military stationed...

He thought he would go to the other side one day
To mix with people looking so happy and gay...
Then towards him came a boy
Holding in his hand a broken toy...

He looked at his face demure
On his hands and cheek were scars
He smiled at him as a friend
And through the barbed wires his hand he lent
To give the boy's tiny hands a shake
Thinking of across the border a friendship made...

The boy smiled back right
His face had all the morning's light
He showed him his toy broken
And asked easily for a replacement
Of that car without wheels...

Just then both heard shouts
Of gun totting olive green people stout
From both sides they came
To drag and pull out both of them...

'Across the border, no friendship!'
He heard from those soldiers who did their magazine keep
Round around their chest like garlands
Of metal and copper shells full of death...

The next morn, still he went
With a new toy car for the boy
He waited waited till the sun towards west did bend
But couldn't see his anticipated joy...

The little boy never again turned up
Morbidity only filled his heart's cup...
He came every morn still sure
To find one day his across the border friendship pure...

The barbed wires are now strengthened more
More pillars of concrete now embellish...
The border lines have no friendship door
To let him give love, a simple toy and a kiss...