The Perspective of Tears: A Poem

I felt a mother's tears today

Right here on my cheek

I felt a mother's tears today

Her baby small and weak

I saw her hold him to her chest

The disease within 

Forbidding his rest

I felt a mother's tears today

Mine mixing with hers

Along the way

I heard a child laugh today

His smile took away my breath

I heard a child laugh today

Unaware of his looming death

The little boy knew no defeat

And danced and played with each heart beat

I heard a child laugh today

His memory now mine for always 

You see…

I don't understand how it can be

In this day and age

A child won't see

His wife's lovely eyes

Soothe her child's cries

Experience love's joy

Grow into a man from a boy

I don't understand how all he'll ever know

is the pain of a needle just above his elbow

How she'll go to sleep without being awake

How their parents know nothing but deep heart ache

I don't understand why these four walls

trap them inside and make them feel small

I don't understand how selfish we can be

Living a life they'll never see

I don't understand how they have such hope

While we complain and do nothing but mope

I'm angry that many won't get to live

And I pray someday they will forgive

Those of us who have it all 

While ignoring those who stumble and fall 

While we ignorantly say, "What can we do?"

Let me tell you

This much is true

We can give with our hearts

Smile, laugh, do our part

We can play with the children

Show them light that is hidden

We can wipe away tears

Comfort those in fear

We can do more than we know

If we let true love show

We can and we will

Our purpose to fulfill

These children are in pain

Let's bring them joy again

I felt a mother's tears today

Her child healed,

His pain taken away

I felt a mother's tears today

Mine mixing with hers along the way.