Five Somber Souls

Five somber souls collect in the house of a mother

To learn the news of her youngest son's brother.

Two knelt down soldiers cloaked in blue, white, and red,

Look her in her eyes and tell her he's dead.

She screams out his name and clenches her fists

As waterfalls flow from what at first we're mists.

We all circled round as she heard the news.

As she asks these men for helpless clues.

She begs them what ifs and asks us why

As she shrinks into our arms and continues to cry.

None of us have answers, or words to give her.

The only console we can give is a hug lined with fur.

As she's frozen on the sofa, she looks at me,

Through her eyes I see how broken a mom can be.

Not able to form a thought, it breaks my heart,

To know the next episode is yet to start.

A ten year old boy, his brother now gone,

As the soldier approaches, he thinks it a con.

First, he cries, but then he laughs, he thinks it's a joke.

As we all look on, he loses his hope.

His brother, his idol, his role model, his joy,

Has left this innocent, little boy.

Forever cursing the army, wished he hasn't left

As his soul has been taken as if by theft.

There five of us remain in the house of the mother

Looking after her, and the younger brother.

As friends and family filter through,

His brother still explaining the elaborate coo.

We notify everyone we know that needs to hear

As the mother tells the story to every ear.

As broken as we are, we still have no words, just tears.

This poor woman, has to face all of her fears.

The loss of a loved one is a scar we must bare

As we all support her to show her we care.

A man so young shouldn't be taken as he was,

In depression, alone, when he had all of us.

He struggled alone, in world full of joy

And love from a special little boy.

This day is sunny, but there is no light

As a young man chose to take his life.

The rest of us are clinging to what ifs, wondering why

As we cling to each other and begin to cry.

We look on to four somber souls, in the house of the mother,

And all of us ask, how are we going to tell the brother?