John-Ward Leighton

CASUALTIES
(Requiem for Four Fine Young Men)

Lives once whole
now have holes,
fatal holes.
They are gone
but we are still here
and their fatal wounds
are now grief edged holes in our lives.
First disbelief
this can’t be happening.
Then we know
and our knowledge gives no relief.
The pain of loss overwhelms our lives.
The mind cannot focus on anything else
and our own survival seems to be without reason.
We huddle together
somehow we must go on.
The world flashes by
but we are immobilised
stopped dead in our tracks.
We remember their faces,
we remember our happy pride in them;
we remember laughter
and the good times.
All now pale reflections of the
might have been.
Potential terminated in the muzzle velocity
of fear and bad judgement.
We loved them
and always hoped for more
than this sorry end.
They were the shield
that took the blows for our folly.
No honours can replace these brave souls
and while the carnage of this
“War on drugs”
continues
I have one question to ask,
“Have we learned anything yet?”

©Copyright March 5, 2005 by John-Ward Leighton

Author’s Note: These are my reflection on the murder of four young RCMP constables in the abortive drug raid yesterday in Alberta, Canada. It all seems so senseless and my heart goes out to all their loved ones. Their loss cannot be replaced with words but perhaps the fact that we all are in this together can help over this very rough spot in our mutual journey.