A Still Born. Poem by Terry Collett

While her husband was off
fighting a war
in a foreign land
she gave birth
to a dead child.

He could have had home leave
have left the war
for other men to fight
have been by her side
in her darkest night,
but he chose to go to war
selected some overseas conflict
to get engaged in battle
leaving her an empty womb,
and a still born babe,
a vacant cot,
a silent rattle.

How long that one hold?
That caressing of one lost
what emotional cost?
While he was off
spilling blood
on a foreign shore,
she buried the child
in a small coffin
of her choosing.

While he was at war
in some other land,
she felt her grief grow;
all else, marriage,
mind's peace,
heart's love,
she had lost
or was loosing.