We Regret To Inform You

 

There’s a mother out there whose kids are off dying.  There’s a mother out there fearing a knock on the door.  There’s a mother out there my words have set crying.  Not sure if I can take any more. There was a mother out there – the bad news had just hit her.  There was a mother out there for whom the worst was in store.  There was a mother out there – you know they drowned her whole litter.  This story, I’ve told it before: One went out before his men, but three more did he save.  Another on the front line took it to an early grave.  A third was blown clean apart, but they say he felt no pain.  And it’s all I can do not to let on that her sons, they died in vain. There’s a brother out there convinced he knows wrong from right.  There’s a brother out there whose brothers followed him to war.  There’s a brother out there who keeps his mother lying awake nights, not sure if she can take any more.  There was a brother out there convinced his side had to win.  There was a brother out there convinced his brother’s side was wrong.  There was a brother out there who tore another limb from limb, and a mother wondering how all this could go on.  One went out before his men, but three more did he save.  Another on the front line took it to an early grave.  A third was blown clean apart, but they say he felt no pain.  And it’s all I can do not to let on that her sons, they died in vain. There’s a mother out there whose kids are off dying.  There’s a mother out there who bears it all so damn well.  There’s a mother out there to whom we must go on lying, for the truth would damn us all to hell.  There’s a mother out there – “We regret to inform you… your sons were killed in the war. But they always make me ask: Is there any chance you’ve got any more?”  One went out before his men, but three more did he save.  Another on the front line took it to an early grave.  A third was blown clean apart, but they say he felt no pain.  And it’s all I can do not to let on that her sons, they died in vain.

From Three Stories (2010)

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