Seven Deadly Poems

There was fire in his eyes

and screams of agony in his ears.

His hands were numb

and the space between his ears -- only static.

He did not have the mind to take stock

of what he had caused.

All he could see was the blood that soaked

his sisters sunny shirt,

and the teddy bear held in her pale fingers

with black eyes that stared back.

And his mother...his mother.

There was a sudden agonized roar that filled the thick air

as he looked down at the body that was no longer moving --

Yet he was still squeezing.

His throat felt torn and tears tried to cool his cheeks.

Above the noise and agony and crimson painting the floor,

he heard short gasps

and then every breath turned into his name.

“Derek.”

“Derek.”

“Derek.”

“Momma.” The boy’s lips seemed to move of their own accord.

Derek’s fingers finally decided to loosen their grip

and he followed her faint, melodic voice --

a voice that used to sing to him at bedtime

and laugh at all his jokes.

As he found her in the rubble of the fallen china cabinet,

her lips pasted on a smile and her eyes watered with pain.

“Momma. I got him. You can stop crying now.”

“Oh sweetie, your momma will be okay. Just promise me you’ll look after Sarah for me.”

Sarah.

She was standing

frozen

in their fathers blood.

a fire sparked in Derek’s eyes once again,

but his mothers voice gave him the chills.

“Don’t be that way. Don’t be your father.”

“Momma, never.”

There was a fierce promise in his voice.

Derek stood on shaky knees

and went to collect his sister

with his gentle embrace

“Sarah,” he whispered in her ear,

“Say good-bye to Mommy. Say you love her.”

Sarah’s fear caused her to act on autopilot

as she repeated her brothers words.

Both children gave their dying mother

a kiss.

And as they heard sirens

both children knew

she was gone.