this is based on a true incident that I experienced. I don't know D's full name. We just always called him D.


An Introduction To Tragedy (a child's first experience)

A cool September morning
in 1958
A young girl heading for school
was just opening her front gate

Nearing the age of 10
she had walked to school for years
There was never any worries,
of danger she had no fear

As she walked outside the gate
she heard squeeling and screaming
She looked to her right and gasped
surely she must be dreaming

Into the house she ran
calling frantically to her mother
they both raced to the scene
til Mom said, go no further

She had gotten close enough
Even with all the moms there,
She saw his splayed body
There was blood covering his hair

Her whole body was numb
She tried but could not breathe
as she noticed one of his shoes
was lying by his sleeve

Lying on the asphalt
on his stomache, like a dead cat
D. Warman was not moving
She wondered how he got like that

She saw a man on his knees
beside a dark blue sedan
he was rocking back and forth
holding his head in his hands

Loud screaming, waling and sobs
came from the group of mothers
gathered round D and his mom
they were hugging one another

As reality came to her
she grew weak with fear
she had never seen death before
How could it be so near?

This was a boy her age
He lived a few houses down
He was going to school today
Now he would be put in the ground

She heard the ambulance sounds
then it pulled up next to her
The medics jumped out
then everything became a blur

They called for the gurney
And lifted D. upon it
his checked blue shirt was bloody
and made her nearly vomit

His mother went with D
the others gathered in D's yard
A policeman took the crying man
But she was given no regard

Tears welled up and fell
down her cheeks like rain
Then her mother noticed her
And realized her pain

As they turned toward home
Mother gave her a comforting pat
And the last thing she saw
were D's shoe and red ball cap















Poetry by Phyllis J. Rhodes
Read 568 times
Written on 2008-09-23 at 18:49

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Kathy Lockhart
Phyllis, I wrote a comment on this poem about the Warmen boy. It has disappeared into thin cyberspace. spooky ~~~~
2008-09-24


Stan Cooper The PoetBay support member heart!
Phyliss....how terribly tragic for both D and you and from
your wonderfully descriptive poem you show how the memory of D's tragedy still, and probably will forever haunt you...

Thanks for sharing this

xxxx Stan
2008-09-23


John Lambremont, Sr.
Isn't it interesting how some of the earliest scars on the psyche
last the longest? A very interesting write, Phyllis. You know I like the re-visit the past, too.

Maybe you should follow this up with a sequel about how this incident affected you, short-term and long-term.

John L.
2008-09-23


Kathy Lockhart
oh gosh, i had forgotten about that. I just remember hearing about it. I had no idea you were there. O how horrible that must have been. I guess I was 6 then. I remember his brother Lonnie was my age. That tragedy and the trauma you as a little girl suffered is still there so vivid as you recall each detail. Experiences of that kind never leave us. Now you have written of it telling the sad story from the view of a 10 year old little girl seeing the heartbreak of life. How scary that must have been for you. And, momma there not knowing what to say but giving you the comfort that you both needed--the love and another day of life. The poetry is so moving in its sorrow.
2008-09-23