Inspired by the Statue of Brothers at the Korean War Memorial in Seoul, Korea.

… a pigeon

whose vacant eyes blink wide.

He squats atop a granite dome.

Above bronze brothers embrace, an ebeneezer of philia.

The older supports the youngers head,

tilted up from the crook of his forearms cradle.

The younger’s eyes open, overwhelmed in clinging to family between trenches.

Their hug, a holy rebellion against a divided dynasty.

Now the gun, once pointed at kin, is slung round the back of the older.

The barrel instead threatens the squab who rests in the shade of an achilles. 

Below humans encircle the monument,

preening and pecking, strutting and squawking,

with the ignorance of…