Prose - Her Son Died On The Beach
She knew then
War is hell
On God's green earth
She heard Satan’s bell
The men approached
An officer and a priest
She fell to her knees
Her joy deceased
Her prayers betrayed
All the good lost
Silently hoping
Realizing freedom's cost
The ultimate sacrifice
To give a son
And now he is gone
While she must live on
To tell a mother
Of her grievous loss
There are no words
Only a white cross
As she plummets
Into the abyss
The spirit moves
Delivering a silent kiss
Her life shattered
The garden forgotten
Dinner has become cold
Will her heart ever soften?
Hatred where there was love
Bitterness all she can feel
As their lips move
Words shock does conceal
As she stares into the night
The nails pierce her memories
His face the mirror
Where she lost all her worries
She floats in front of the bullet
And wipes his brow
There is nothing in this life
That matters now
She covers his pale body
As the blood of life flows
He shivers as he reaches his hand
She smiles because she knows
The mercenary
Loves his mother
It is her special place
There is no other
Did he call for her?
Did he have time to cry?
Or did death give him leave?
Mooting the question of why
His duty to his country
Planted the seeds of pride
Now he is dead
She wondered who lied
Is it time for anger
And the walk down hatred’s trail?
She prayed every night
Hoping for a holy veil
"I pray for my son
Oh Lord remember his name
Spare him a short journey
Do not give Satan true aim
Return him to me
The one who bore the pain
I only ask for life
All mothers ask the same"
And now her prayer
Will never again
Pass her lips
Instead only words so profane
Can she turn the other cheek
For the unknown sniper
Or for his “superior” officer
Whose order was the killer
Was he expendable
As a stone over the breach
For others to climb
As they left the dead on the beach?
Did his killer survive?
Or is his mother bitter?
The sons of ambition
Are now only its litter
Glory is no solace
As we fail to remember
Life goes on
But not for a lost family member
Did one more death
Win the war?
Or was he just a casualty?
She wondered what for
She is gone now
Whispering his name at the end
We were not there
Flowers we did not send
She never saw the butterflies
Or heard the birds each day
She only thought of her son
Hoping through God he found his way
As I watch my own son
He smiles with his friends
I wonder about the flag
That seems to cover our sins
And how it was folded for her
Forever never to wave
Will it sit in a drawer?
Whose life will it save?
Can I offer him for our country?
As Abraham offered Isaac?
I cry as I feel the shame
It seems courage is what lack
Did her son die in vain?
Will my son soon follow?
Or will I spit out
The patriotic pill others gladly swallow?
How can I comfort
A dead woman I never knew?
Tell me the answer
What should I do?
I ask you the same
What would you do?
There are no answers
You love your son too
So as we fall silent
I will pray over how she bled
Hoping never to see lips move
Telling me my son is dead
