Susan Jarvis Bryant, ‘Tooth and Claw’ – 1st Place Award
Tooth and Claw
Observe the tooth and claw of savage deed.
Beware the ferric breath of looming dread.
Don’t let the taunt of terror sow its seed—
The heartless reap a harvest seeping red.
Beware the ferric breath of looming dread
On ill winds wafting from a shady shore.
The heartless reap a harvest seeping red—
The truth is leaking neath the Dragon’s door.
On ill winds wafting from a shady shore
Ghosts whisper of the fate of Falun Gong.
The truth is leaking neath the Dragon’s door
To ring from every bold and golden tongue.
Ghosts whisper of the fate of Falun Gong
In pleas that rise in prayers for those in pain
To ring from every bold and golden tongue,
To tell of horror’s fierce and hellish reign.
In pleas that rise in prayers for those in pain
Let’s speak for brave hearts robbed of song and sound.
Let’s tell of horror’s fierce and hellish reign.
Let’s stand for meek souls beaten to the ground.
Let’s speak for brave hearts robbed of song and sound.
Don’t let the taunt of terror sow its seed.
Let’s stand for meek souls beaten to the ground—
Observe the tooth and claw of savage deed.
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Susan Jarvis Bryant is a church secretary and poet whose homeland is Kent, England. She is now an American citizen living on the coastal plains of Texas.