Tears of a Child

 

 

Tears blur the pale faded blue eyes

“Where did my mammy go?

our sister cries out

 

She’ll be back soon

we say drying her tears.

 

With an ache in our hearts

we tell the untruth

our mother’s been dead

these forty odd years

 

Content for now

Our sister smiles

then suspiciously says

I don’t know who you are

 

I must remember to lock

the back door

you’re a stranger to me

get away from my chair

 

Then, her mood changes again

she smiles as she says

Maggie my sister is coming today.

 

“Oh don’t worry dear she’ll

not mind you being her

she says as Maggie

gently combs back her hair.

 

Rising; from her chair

she goes to the door

 

I don’t know why

your father’s not here

she frets twisting her hands

His dinner in the oven there

waiting on him

 

Then silently, again her tears

start to flow

and for a brief moment

she’s knows who we are

 

I’m among strangers here

I want to go home

She pleads grasping our han

 

Broken hearted we pause

at the door of the Home

at the tears of a child

now seventy years old