I write this with a heavy heart, one week on from such a terrible event. I have a deep affection for New Zealand, our son lived there for twenty years with his New Zealander wife. My wife and I thought it to be the safest and nicest place of all. We must be positive, it still is. I hope I haven’t offended anyone.

Black the eyes that stared back so cold
The finality of death had robbed their life
There was no other presence in that space to see
No future of things that were meant to be.

Robbed of life by an evil hand and heart
At prayer in a mosque that should be so safe
So wicked the man, so heartless the crime
No name to be uttered for the rest of time.

Lock him away, lock him away, lose the key
For he shouldn’t see ever the light of day
How could one be so be so vicious, cruel and vile
Who would steal away another’s smile.

©Joe Wilson – One week on…2019