Consequences

January 24th, 1953 Hiroshima, Japan As quivering lips mumble their last words A pair of sickly sunken eyes grow heavy A trembling hand reaches out To stoke my damp cheeks under my teary eyes As I stand at her bedside Holding her other weakening hand I bite my lips to quiet my whimpering What had she done to deserve this? What had she done to deserve to lie on her deathbed? She's a wonderful woman, a magnificent mother Why must she pay the consequences for sins that weren't even her own? Yes, she was Japanese, but not a Jap There's a fine line between a potential friend and definite foe As she lay dying, her eyes met mine She gives a brave simile and puts her hand on my shoulder And I am forced to fake one This would be the last image I'd have of her Imprinted forever in the wrinkles of my mind Yet another soul, lost to the consequences of war

Yes yes, not the best thing ever... I'm pretty bad at poetry. Feel free to give corrections and constructive criticism...