Elizabeth Ashe

“The Japs,” said one Indian, “have reduced Mandalay to ashes, and their bombers are operating all over the country. They are a barbarous foe and have butchered many of their prisoners.””

“If I were on firewho could I count on to water me down?If I were a pile of ashes who could I count on to gather me in a pretty urn?If I were nothing but dust would anyone chase the wind trying to piece me back together?””

“Hope has no feathersHope takes flighttethered with twinelike a tattered kite,slave to the wind'scapricious drifteager to soarbut needing liftHope waits stubbornlywatching the skyfor turmoil, feeding onthings that fly:crows, ashes, newspapers,dry leaves in flightall suggest windthat could lift a kiteHope sails and plungesfirmly caughtat the end of her string -fallen slack, pulling taught,ragged and featherless.Hope never fliesbut doggedly watchesfor windy skies.””