As he walked by so slowly
 In shackles and in chains.
   Once again those memories
 Come flooding through again. 

 The memory of the court date
 For the kid who killed my son.
Come rushing back into my head
   The pictures one..... by one.... 

When they removed the shackles
    And then removed the chains.
The look upon this young lad's face
Showed his life will never be the same.

 Then as he turned so slowly
And gazed into my face,
It then became so obvious
He would have taken Geno's place. 

   But as the years have now gone past
And his Jail time is through,
I'll walk this Courthouse corridor
 And stand along side of you. 

  With heavy heart I'll once again
   Relive that awful day, 
And then try to reassure you
 That your pain will go away. 

 But I would then be lying
And not have helped you with your grief, 
And I would not have served you
 As you search your Heart for Peace. 

And hearing words like, "He went fast
Or never had to suffer" 
Are not the words of comfort,
To a Father or a Mother. 

 Nor hearing words like "Sorry" 
Or it is Our Lord's will, 
Can never change this heartbreak 
  For it's not a magic pill. 

So when someone tries to console you 
With words like remorse, or love and hate, 
Just gently smile and remind them 
They are Just One Child Too Late!!!! 

I wrote this poem because of the day Peggy Caldwell-Heichel and I had on 9/3/98 as we companioned with a Mom and Grand mom who recently had their loved one killed by an alleged Drunk Driver.