Lost Cause

How they looked like armor, the houses in

The snowscape. And they lined up like soldiers,

Extending to the edge of the frozen

Mississippi. And as the sun set, the

Snowscape turned blood-red, and the people rushed

Inside their houses to avoid facing

Death. And the women sang lullabies to

The sad and sleepless children, promising

Them that childhood was forever.

And once, a child rose to open the shade

And look out, only to be admonished

By her mother and told: "Why do you wish

To look outside, darling? You'll only find pain

In the snowscape." And the child thought for a

Moment, And then, with a look of immense

Defiance, opened the shade.

And the sight of the sunset and the sight

Of the scarlet snow made the mother shriek,

For in that moment, the war had been lost.

The girl had seen death and smiled.