she walks in the beauty of the sun,

bare feet padding softly on the cool dirt 

fingers skimming the tops of the tall grass



her laughter floats over the field

and the clouds smile down on her

holding back their inevitable rain



she twirls

happier than the most jubilant of children

displaying a smile that refuses to depart



her hair shining as it falls 

eyes sparkling like the stars to come: 

the perfection of a woman in love



the storm

comes softly on horseback

unexpected



she turns, the smile fading

the news comes by way of a young man:

a boy much like the one she is losing



“he fought bravely” is all she hears

before falling to the ground

her fist clenched as she beats her breast



the sky is now dark

she hears thunder and sees the flash of jagged lightening 

in the sky that before was joyful with her



now her tears fall

unnoticed 

onto that same cool dirt that before she tread in anticipation

and now sobs on in pain



the message-bearers are gone

and she is alone, face tearstained

pain easily visible on her angelic face:

the agony of a woman who has lost everything