We Are Waiting for Peace to Break Out by Carlos Reyes

WE ARE WAITING FOR PEACE TO BREAK OUT
--for Marvin Simmons
We are waiting for peace to break out
We are waiting for flowers to bloom
We are waiting for the moon to come
from behind the black clouds of war
We are waiting for the light
We are awaiting
and as we wait we sing songs of celebration
We are waiting
and as we wait we hold out our hands in love and friendship:
white hands extended in friendship to black hands
and brown and green hands of the earth
We are waiting
and while we wait we applaud those who have gone before us
preaching peace: all the Martin Luther Kings, all the Gandhis
We are waiting for peace to break out
and as we wait we dance: we dance with the cold east wind
with the creaking singing branches of giant firs
we dance with the devils
of dust and the angels of clouds
We are waiting
and as we wait we are learning the language
of burning roses and the sunflowers slowly turning toward the sun
We are waiting for peace to break out
and while we wait we are learning to listen
to cries for mercy and cries for help
though we may not know the language
We are learning to listen for the arrival of doves
We are waiting for peace to break out
and while we wait we are smiling at you
at all of you--at the you and me in the mirror...
We are waiting for peace to break out
We are waiting for buds to pop though it is deep winter
We wait for peace as patiently as the drop of water
on the lips at the mouth of the fountain
We wait knowing the water of peace is cool and sweet
sure that the crystal drop will fall on the earth
in spite of any of man’s evil actions--