2001
(FOR MELISSA LEUNG, STEPHEN GLIDDEN, KAYLA ROSENBERG AND GREGORY CHAN)
BEWILDERED STARES AND THE EYES OF THE STUNNED
REVEALED IN THE LIGHT OF THE SLOW RISING SUN
MUSIC AND CLOTHING CLUTTER THE GRASS
SOFT TENDER WEEPING AND PIECES OF GLASS
A GIRL WITH HER HANDS CLASPED OVER HER LIPS
EVERYONE SLOWLY COMING TO GRIPS
THEY GRAB AND HOLD FAST TO THE NEAREST PAIR OF ARMS
IN THE BLEAK DESOLATION OF PASTURES AND FARMS
THERE'S A BOY IN A DAZE CLUTCHING A BEAR
AND THE STENCH OF MANURE REEKING IN THE AIR
SOMEONE LAYS THE INSTRUMENTS GENTLY IN A PILE
AND OFFERS COMFORT WITH A WEARY SMILE
ONE MOTHER IS SHATTERED AND DEVASTATED
REGRETFUL OF EVER HAVING HESITATED
IN GRANTING HER YOUNG DAUGHTER'S DESIRES
SHE'S AWAKENED TO SEE THAT LIFE EXPIRED
CRUSHED BENEATH THE WEIGHT OF THE BUS
WHY HAD SHE MADE THE SLIGHTEST FUSS
OVER THE PANTS WITH THE MONKEY EMBROIDERED IN
SHE LONGS FOR HER DAUGHTER'S ENDEARING GRIN
THAT LIFE AND THREE OTHERS WERE INSTANTLY GONE
THEY LIE AS IF SLEEPING IN THE GRIM MISTY DAWN
SHE WANTED TO SHARE IN HER DAUGHTER'S JOY
NOW THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS ARE DESTROYED
THIS GRIM DAY IS SLOWLY WARMING
FOLLOWED BY FUNERALS AND TEARS OF MOURNING
PARENTS BURY THEIR CHILDREN RIGHT BEFORE THEIR EYES
THEY TENDERLY REMEMBER AND WARMLY EULOGIZE
THEIR YEARS SO CRUELLY FEW WITH UNFULFILLED DESIRING
YET WHAT THEY HAD WAS GOOD AND INSPIRING
SEE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OVERCOME WITH GRIEF
AND EMBRACE THE NEAREST STRANGER FOR SOME RELIEF
WHEN WILL THE GLOOM LIFE AND SORROW CEASE
AND ARE THOSE CHILDREN WITH GOD IN PEACE
CAN THE TEARS OF THEIR GRIEVING MOTHERS BE STEMMED
AND WILL WE LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF THEM
