Casualties of War
It began as love stories do,
A whirlwind romance.
Then courtship led the couple to
A tender wedding dance.
They thought it would last forever,
The love they felt back then,
But once the magic disappeared,
It would not come again.
This put the couple in a state
Of profound confusion,
The loss of such a special thing,
Left them disillusioned.
It wasn’t meant to be like this,
How could love fade away?
Both thought they did the best they could,
And never lost their way.
It had to be the other’s fault;
This left the two dismayed.
Love might have stood the test of time,
Had it not been betrayed.
The love that once dwelled in their hearts,
Was now replaced by scorn.
And in the wake of their reproach,
Their family was torn.
Everything became a weapon,
The house, the kids, the cars.
And so consumed by their own pain,
They could not see the scars.
Their daughter lost her trust in them,
A casualty of war,
A child should never have to choose,
Which parent they love more.
She found solace in the darkness,
For life brought her no peace.
She felt death was the only way,
That she would find release.
And so, one night, in deep despair,
Their daughter took her life.
She filled the bath, then slit her wrists,
With Daddy’s hunting knife.
The couple could not face the truth,
It was the other’s fault.
Then picking up where they left off,
Continued their assault.
Refusing to accept their role,
In causing so much strife,
They let their pride destroy their world,
Which cost their daughter’s life.
The future is a bitter pill,
For the battles still roar.
The ruined lives left in their wake,
Are casualties of war.
Copyright © Mark Spencer | Year Posted 2011
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