A Fallen One's Lament

• Alexandra Padovano, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2013

A single tear falls down his cheek
And a gasp of pain escapes his mouth
As the warm blood oozes through his damaged skin
A loud clatter is heard as the blade falls from his weak hand
The voices growing louder in his head.

He falls to the cold, hard ground
The tears finally being released
As he starts to drift away.

The memories of the war, cloud his mind
Screams of the dying soldiers echo inside his head,
The guilt is all too much, the guilt of losing a comrade, a friend.

Closing his eyes and whispering,
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,
Hail Mary forgive me”
A short gasp of pain is released
And a final breath is taken.