After A War

After a War.
1945 peace broke out, jubilant people danced
in streets; but there had to be revenge, women
who had slept with the enemy, the easy targets,
were rounded up, dragged to the police yard.
Heads were shorn, bald women what a strange
sight… tears and laughter. I knew one of them
she lived in a basement flat near us, she used to
give me soft slices of bread with strawberry jam.
I was told to not speak to her, this fallen hussy;
and that was ok, she was now poor as us had
nothing to give, but her shame and endless tears.

poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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