After the Knock
Two young children play outside the house,
Inside a mother watches through windows folding a blouse.
With the kids in the back she heads to the chair,
When through the front window come soldiers, a pair.
One is dressed like her husband the other more like a priest,
Then came the knock, sounding like a relentless beast.
Her mind said just leave them outside at the door standing,
Her hand opened the door, on her knees she felt herself landing.
The soldiers told of her husbands fate,
Wanting them to just leave her tears could not wait.
The two young children came in the backdoor,
Seeing two soldiers and their mommy on the floor.
The oldest asked mommy what is the matter,
Come here my blessings, hugging, I will explain it later.
Her world had flipped, turned upside down,
He returned to her in a casket with a flag draped all around.
They had to drive from the airport to their small country plot,
She couldn’t count the people lined along the road, but it was a lot.
Each one waved a flag, some cried as if they knew her girls’ dad,
She’d never seen most of them, but seeing them now made her glad.
She saw signs that read “Welcome home Hero” and she filled with pride,
Even that couldn’t stop the tears, at the gravesite she just cried.
She stayed there saying goodbye, her family had to pull her away,
She’s glad they did for she wouldn’t have left his side that day.
She is exhausted, overwhelmed, she must sit down,
Then she sees the photo of him in a Tux and her in a wedding gown.
How could this be real, she’s too young to be a widowed wife,
He was her partner, best friend, the love of her life.
Now the hours have past his vessel is in the ground,
All the parties are leaving she’s alone in their home, not a sound.
She weeps in her chair alone in the dark no sound but the clock,
God help her find strength, a way to move forward, after the knock.
Copyright © Brian Magness | Year Posted 2011
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