requiem

stone cold ivory casts cruciform shadows
carving a hemisphere of night in the day
a freeze-frame of the last moment
bashful nightingales fly silent in memorial
as they see the terrible geometry of cost
the heavy air gives breath to no song
the words held faltering on choked breath
never to forget
frowning child-fingers trace carved names
mothers yearn for their misunderstanding
the sun warms the angel-white stone
and the children will return