A Minute's Silence - Stephen A. Roberts

Another day, another minute's silence
how many more to stop the violence?
The mute response where words are useless,
a stunned reflection in respectful stillness

Now across all cities, the sound of sirens
another day, another act of violence
Seduced and poisoned by vicious hatred
an endless harvest has been created

Can we quieten the voice of violence -
with a mournful minute's silence?
And still the hand that gives no quarter -
bring peace to end the murderous slaughter?

Right now we all need new teachers
to lead us from misguided preachers -
to help us reject the cult of violence
and save us from another minute's silence...

Stephen A. Roberts