$500 winner--Poetry Society Of Texas--2022-Qamer Award--LaVern Spencer McCarthy

After the Pandemic--Written April 13, 2020
The night is here, but dawn shall come once more
when all the pain of earth has burned away.
Our tears will turn to laughter, as before.
Our lives will shine with purpose some sweet day.
When all the pain of earth has burned away--
when faith destroys the path where demons go--
our lives will shine with purpose some sweet day,
no need to hide in shadows from the foe.
When faith destroys the path where demons go,
we'll say a prayer for those we could not save.
No need to hide in shadows from the foe,
our courage will be stronger than the grave.
We'll say a prayer for those we could not save.
Remembered names will blaze across the sky.
Our courage will be stronger than the grave,
with souls untouched by death although we die.
Remembered names will blaze across the sky
in boundless waves that nothing can destroy.
With souls untouched by death although we die,
may sorrow be amended into joy.
In boundless waves that nothing can destroy,
our tears will turn to laughter, as before.
May sorrow be amended into joy.
The night is here, but dawn shall come once more.

Published on September 1st, 2022