The words we leave unsaid - a poem by Chris Zachariou

Five friends eating ice cream and apple pie

Five sat around the table
eating ice cream and apple pie
but in between the laughter
and the sips of wine
silence fell and talked so loud
with all the words we left unsaid.

Once, the road seemed so long
a new adventure in each twist
   and every turn
city walls with iron doors
with parapets and citadels to burn.

Soldiers of the revolution
we stormed the rusty gates
Che posters in all the bedsits
Afghan coats and silver bells.

How short the road seems now. 

The old walls still standing strong

our armies ruined and wrecked
lying in tatters at the city doors.

Four sit around the table

eating ice cream and apple pie

but in between the laughter

and the sips of wine

silence falls and talks so loud

with all the words we leave unsaid.

Four friends eating ice cream and apple pie