Charlie Hebdo, 7th Jan ‘15

I battled first with my tears;

Wondering if I had enough

Ink bottles and blotting paper

To save us from drowning.

 

Then, pen in hand, I struggled

With the spotless pages,

As they begged me to

Let them be for the day.

 

“No. Leaving you blank,

Is to accept defeat.”

I pleaded with them.

With silence they agreed.

 

But as ink touched paper,

Black turned scarlet;

My hand dropped my sword.

“What dark magic is this?”

 

“Not magic,” said pen & paper,

“Our brothers and sisters

Were massacred yesterday.

This red… is in their honour.”