Jerusalem

by niallkillian

Do you remember that time in our youth
when we climbed a grassy hill
which towered above us as children
but offered little resistance as boys

Our great crusade

Then when we sat upon the summit
gazing down upon the town
the outlines of houses and gardens below
so small and unassuming from there

The land of our fathers

I’ll always recall what you said to me then
fixed intently on each other
eyes meeting, the tacit agreement signed
the simple diplomacy of children

A covenant made

Later I thought of the great implications
true friendship, grand designs
rooted deep and true
naive to think that our world thought the same

Milk and honey

Now I think about that time, tones of memory
how would life have swept us up
if Decima had not intervened so early
I’d assumed our journey would lead us further

Pilgrims’ progress

Lives to some are facts and figures, numbers
only to those who do not suffer their loss
maybe we’d have climbed a different summit
seen it together, what we spoke of…

Jerusalem

The promised land