Mother's Pride

It came like a deafening noise,
An unknown voice,
On the phone,
announcing the death,
Of someone he had never met,
Somewhere,my son,lay dead.

Jewel of my proud family,
destined to serve the Nation,
Like my husband before him,
Who perished befittingly,
At his battle station.

I have his picture,
standing before his MIG,
A fighter,by nature,
Yet always the sensitive creature,
A promising Life..A broken twig.

There came numerous calls,
from the medalled halls,
Of the 3 and 4 starred men,
Promising to placate,
His death, and investigate,
If there was foul play,
Or a walk down God's mysterious way.

Then came the expected shock,
They said he was a player..
They said he was a jock..
Someone who took a habitual punt,
I could see Army heads,out for the hunt.

Tales of bravery,that explained his glories,
Were turned to reckless,cavalier stories,
Anyone who dared to differ,
feeling obvious loss and pity,
Never again was seen or heard,
Transferred to an unknown city.

Then raised its head,
To drink off the dead,
Politics and Fourth estate,
and I was made bait,
while I sat at India Gate,
Watching actors..it seemed so clear,
Performing the role,shedding crocodile tears.

I miss my child,
I mourn his death,
But an equal pain I have felt,
When before my husband's coffin knelt,
A soldier's life is rarely wanted,
As a long healthy life..
Neither is promised nor granted.

I seek today, not justice,
All I think of is the academy,
his young friends with their mothers,
and pray for a better life for his army brothers.