The Doorbell

the doorbell rang
as it did before, as it did
at so many homes - during the
Great World War

and the Great  World War had taken so
many sons -
"Pray God not mine, not my only one"
and the doorbell rang just
once more - as she pulled her apron
to wring her hands - moving slowly
across the wooden floor, its planks
where he had learned
to walk, and there her heart
had nothing more to say - nothing
more -and her tears gave way

and through the lace curtains
she saw a man
in uniform standing straight, standing tall
and grabbing her
heart - fall, "No" she had
to go, and undid
the latch -

and with turn
of knob -  truth hit
her every bone....that the boy she knew
was the man, come home....

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011

Posted for Magpie Tales