Snow on Frosted Maples

Snow on Frosted Maples

Snow on frosted maples

melts in drops like tears;

tears which fall in silent

weeping for our fallen children.

The cold and dying season

has seen the passing of more

than russet leaves and

southward-winging birds.

The children too, have flown

and left behind this frozen home

where so much pain and grief

are all that mark their passing.

Silence greets their homes on Christmas morn’;

where families with hollow eyes and broken hearts

unwrap the un-given gifts

and rasp out the unanswerable, “Why?”

Through the long dark nights of winter

a mother will stand watch over

an empty bed, an empty room,

while praying that this cold would one day end.

Frost on new-turned earth,

where lies a fallen child,

cradled in the good earth’s bosom

awaiting the thaw of snow on frosted maples.

©2012 Michael Hunter