A cruel war was being fought, oh, still a million miles away, <br />and our young hearts rejected every gloomy thought, <br />while merrily we danced, and drank, and sang, and played <br />the old, old games of chance, that New Year's Eve of 1939, <br />till, at the stroke of twelve, all church bells started ringing, <br />their centuries-old greetings to the new-born year... <br /> <br />But, if that war was really such a distant thing, <br />why did those bells have such a haunting ring, <br />still joyful, but with undertones of grief? <br />No one was willing to explain why, suddenly, <br />life seemed so strangely precious, as were <br />the hugs and kisses that were shared at twelve... <br /> <br />Outside, where jasmins bloomed in fragrant splendor, <br />stood you and I, in silent apprehension of new blessings, <br />benignly smiled upon by wise old mother moon, although <br />she sadly recognized another version of that old, old story, <br />the one she knew might end too soon in times like those, <br />when death was no respector of young love... <br /> <br />Then, suddenly, for seven seconds, ten maybe, <br />your lovely little hand lay trustingly in mine, <br />no questions asked, no answers given, we needed none. <br />All fears and shadows fled, our hearts began to sing, <br />we knew with blessed certainty that, by the grace of God, <br />we would share far, far more than seven seconds of eternity!<br /><br />Willem VanVoorthuysen<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/silent-promises/
