Every Mother’s Dream                                    

By the time Joe reached the third grade
He knew he was destined to do something great
Joe did not need to play
He just wanted to earn those A’s
Day after day
He would study 
Sometimes for hours at a time
Telling his mother Someday
I’m going to be somebody
Just you wait and see

By the time he was sixteen
He had earned a scholarship 
to the college of his choice
Joe was every mother’s dream
It would seem 
that nothing could stop his success

But one night 
coming home with his girl 
from a movie
smiling like he owned the world
He walked proudly
not knowing fate
would intervene
You see the movie let out late
and in the darkness 
someone hid
someone with a blade
waiting to control the night
what happened next 
is confusing at best

A man jumped in front of Joe
and pulled his knife
He touched Joe’s girl
In a whirl
moving to protect the woman 
who was to be his wife
Joe tried to stop him
but, Joe had never been in a fight
this is one instance 
where intelligence could not save the day
in a minute it was over without a sound 
 Joe’s body fell to the ground
as he lost his life

The thief turned and ran
more coward than a man
without a cent
murder was not his intent
it was just an unfortunate accident

That night three people died
Joe from the knife
the girl who would be his wife
and Joe’s mother who cried
for the loss of someone 
who was her life...

© Rodney C. Walmer 9/16/95