Day 259

Forgive me, the mother is saying to her child.
Forgive me, I was not able to come to you.
All the days of your life, when you called me I came.
The sun was hot today, the air fetid.  I know
you would have been walking with me.
I know we would have been talking
about the sea, about birds
flying over the sea.
Forgive me, for I could not save you.  Forgive me,
my hands were not strong enough to save you
from the death that came for you.  A mother goes searching
for food, comes home to find her child dead.  What
were the words you cried out as the house
turned dark, collapsed around you? Were you stunned
to silence?  Did you call
my name?