A Mother's Grief Poem by Thomas Thompson

Wednesday, May 21,2014

A Mother's Grief

One evening soon after my return from a troubled land
I heard a timid knock and answered the door
Frank's mother silent on the porch
A sad anguished smile as she barely met my eyes
Her body shaking as if in pain

She lived on Kathryn Street not five houses from where we stood
Next to the black cherry tree Frank and I went many a night
Our fingers purple as we enjoyed the fruit
Laughing as we scrambled away at the sound of the neighbor's voice

Happier days before I joined the army and left for war

I heard you were back she murmured softly welcoming me home
As she turned to leave with tears in her eyes
She stopped and said my Frankie died in that awful place
And walked away not caring a wit of my shock
Or offered condolences

The next day I went to see her
But could not answer the questions she asked
Over and over to find out how he really died
Did I see him when he was there
Why not you were his friend didn't you care

I felt numb from her searing pain
As she sat consumed with anger
Her once strong body frail from anguish
And she kept asking questions
I could not answer

I soon left to save my sanity
For how could I tell her there was no reason
Who came home alive or wrapped in a flag
From a war-ravished land unkind to all
Where all you could to do was survive one moment at a time

To think otherwise would drive you crazy
As you waited to set foot on that silver bird
Not breathing until you heard the wheels whir into place
Unaware of the lingering darkness following in your wake
That would be with you always

These thoughts and others I kept to myself
As we met the next week or two
She became more and more agitated
Her questions angrier and angrier
Until I could take no more and said goodbye

As I walked away she screamed in rage and frustration
Why are you alive and my Frankie dead she cried out in fury
He should have come back NOT you
Her words like bullets as I heard her sobbing
Knowing there was nothing I could do or say but keep walking

Her questions I could not answer still in my mind

Tommy