Postcard

When you feel the violence ripping

At the edge of the story ---

Of the image—

Like an old postcard, hand tinted,

That she sent, idyllic

And yet no mention of the grudges,

The dark spears – black ironwork fleur de lis on the railings.

The eyebrows raised,

The handshakes of world leaders,

Equally false.

Silent colours,

Not giving anything away.

- Rita Cummings/2011