IMG_8959 I want to know

that someone else’s mother, once,

saved a drawing

such as this.

Your cartoon face,

that crooked crayon smile,

something about you

held firm in it, even at 5.

Below the teacher has written

in perfect felt marker script

what you told her-

I want to be a soldier when I grow up.

I have stopped here

in the hallway

by your self-portrait

and though I have called others over

to see

they do not let themselves.

I have stopped here this morning

to let my heart break for a moment,

just as I do every evening

on the nightly news,

when, in our house,

we observe in silence your passing.

© Janice Riley, 2013. All rights reserved.