Community Elder
The Day is a nice one
warm and sunny
a cool occasional breeze adds to perfection
An old man sits alone
watching children play and cars go by
he listens to the sounds of the lazy day
a baby crying for mother’s milk
birds chirp, while frolicking in the sky
Children bring the smile to his face
their laughter
their joy
their innocence
their devilry
their seeming flawless perfection
at simply being
Such has not been heard in his home
in such a time he wonders
“Why must they grow at all?”
He hears the shots
he hears the cries
and a single tear
asks “why?”
Somehow the world seems less beautiful
when the children have to grow up
only to die before their time
