The Feast Of The Holy Innocents

Roger Humes

Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and sending forth killed all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. [Matthew 2:16-18]
 
once a crusade has begun
such consequences are inevitable
once the line is placed in the sand
there is no turning back when crossed:
 
heedless that tomorrow may never come
they play upon the dusty street
until the shrieks of laughter drown
in a crimson flash which melds with the red
that slowly seeps over the dampening soil
 
lifeless unclosed eyelids
pale cold outstretched hands
flaccid broken limbs
taut ashen lips
undone dreams
 
the mothers rush in with tear filled eyes
a chorus of voices unable to comprehend
the instant that shattered their hope and lives
 
they kneel in the sand
kiss the unending horror
stroke the disheveled hair
clutch the limp bodies
which had held the promise
of a future that disappeared quicker
than their sobbing exhaled breath
 
only women can create the universe of life
and only they truly understand the meaning
when the candle is snuffed
and no more than darkness remains