A MONSTROUS MISCALCULATION

 “You go there, I will be somewhere here.”

 The twelve year old told his eight year old brother wiping a tear.

 “If I get killed at least you will be there

To look after sister and the baby”, he said taking him in a hug bear.

In two different directions they ran helter skelter

 One in a church, the other in a school took shelter.

Their hearts overflowing with concern for their sister and baby small.

When they left, the small baby was playing happily with a doll.

The eight year old bent down to tend to a blister

Ah, how he missed the tiny baby and his fifteen year old sister.

Now the boys waited, for what exactly, they themselves did not know.

Alas, now from above descended the foe.

And in this cross fire of hate both boys were killed.

 Two tiny voices forever stilled.

Toxic fumes in the air leapt.

 Sitting on the rubble a fifteen year old girl copiously wept.

In her arms a tiny bundle,

Whose eyes were closed, but hair shone like gold.

 The baby was fourteen months old.

 Thick black smoke rose in the air

 There was a helter skelter confusion,

Of limbs, books and toys a bizarre fusion

In a corner lay an unclaimed bat

 Watched over by a lonely, heartbroken cat.

And a doll which continued to smile

 Oblivious to the rampant malevolence, mendacity, murder and guile.