The archive
Away with war
The angels haven’t told a lie
Yet the comet has come to see
What tangible change man has made
In loving himself.
The lead dust and flames of water
Flash upon the earth
To search our hearts.
The human task has been costed
To meet the tender board..
Charting exit for bad regimes
Jews and Arabs, pray for luck
And apartheid laws face fire
All away from the Chemobyl flames
But God’s finger feels not the heat
Give us not a war to fight
And let the comet trail the light
To show the pillar of truth
P.O. Atuu · 1993
EDITOR’S NOTE
Originally published in Citizen on 22 November 1993, p. 36. This diplomatic transcription preserves the wording and lineation verified against the archived page.