A Mother's Cry

• Chinnu Anil, Grade 9, Penrith High School
• Poetry
• 2017

Excellence Award in the 'Spread The Word 2017' competition

Her voice feeble, her body weak she asks
‘’Are you ok Mother?’’ ‘’Are you in any pain?’’
Though tears are sluicing down my eyes and the pain is building, I reply
‘’My dear, it’s going to be alright”, as I wipe away the spreading bloodstain
BOOM! Another one goes off in the distant village
Protectively, I wrap her frail body around my arms,
As I stare at the crippled wall lying beside us, from the previous bomb
Shouts and screams are incessant as the city tolls its warning alarms
“Mommy, I’m scared’’ she whispers in my ear,
As she tries to wipe away the cataract of blood spilling from my side
‘’Hush my child, it’s going to be alright’’ I reassure her,
Though a guilty feeling begins to form in my stomach, for I had just lied
Guns are triggered arbitrarily and men begin to slowly enter our home
‘’Mummy, mummy’’ she whimpers, ‘’mummy, mummy’’ she cries
But the men shoot their guns, and I stay hugging her, unable to move
As the ruby red blood trickles down her body and tears from her eyes