Saturday, October 12, 2013

It Happened For A Reason


On a warm and sunny September morning,
A sadistic joke of a day, not dissimilar to 9/11.
20 people where gathered at the cemetery.
Little Michael had been hit by a speeding car.
His 4 year old body now enclosed in a child’s coffin,
Was lowered into a grave not much larger than him.

Reverend Carl’s attempt to console the parent
Was predictably unsuccessful.
To Stephen the boy’s father, the words,
“Know that God wanted Michael in heaven for a Reason”
Pierced his mind, inflamed his stomach,
Twisted his heart.

Everyone would leave soon, too soon.
Stephen sobbed uncontrollably, mumbling self-deprecations
And pleas for a different reality.
Pain turning to anger reached for purchase.
“WHAT REASON?” he screamed at Carl.

Aware of the unseemliness of his outburst,
Stephen immediately turned  to the other mourners
To apologize, only to stop
And bellow, “WHY? WHY?”.

Carl, a survivor of hundreds of funerals
Knew not to offer another suggestion.
Maybe later Stephen would accept God’s wisdom,
Or perhaps Stephen will demand, like Job,
An answer that will not be forthcoming.








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