and still they smile
in a photograph or four
i saw them
three little girls sleeping
there
on the tatters of a blanket
cuddled and hunched together
on the sidewalk brick
near the edge of somewhere
there
in Istanbul i think
an angelic trio of refugees
fleeing from the horror of
a conflict of religion
a conflict of mankind
a conflict breaking hearts
there
i saw them awaken
with a rub of the eyes
with a hands down rump up stand
with an energized instant of discovery
where their eyes alight
with stars
of innocence
of hopes
of dreams
that only a child can share
in a smile
and still they smile
in a photograph or four
i saw them
three little girls sleeping
there
on the tatters of a blanket
cuddled and hunched together
on the sidewalk brick
near the edge of somewhere
there
in Istanbul i think
an angelic trio of refugees
fleeing from the horror of
a conflict of religion
a conflict of mankind
a conflict breaking hearts
there
i saw them awaken
with a rub of the eyes
with a hands down rump up stand
with an energized instant of discovery
where their eyes alight
with stars
of innocence
of hopes
of dreams
that only a child can share
in a smile
and still they smile
Poetry by Jeff Reeve
sweet faces on the streets of Istanbul
