Slaughter Of the Innocent

You could tell...
by the way she was breathing,
that she wasnt really breathing at all.

Those shallow inhales were really prayers...
Those heavy exhales were hopes...that her
prayers would be answered....

Today...the Devil would intercept her cries
to Heaven....
Today... she would not be offered a reprieve
from the torrent of tears...that flooded
her face...
Or the torrent of blood that covered her hands
as she feverishly tried to will her childs
precious bodily fluids back inside her veins...

"Why!"....Ameil moaned...."Why...Mychild."
No one said a word...
there was no comforting this woman
Only telepathic whispers among...the "elder folk"
sought to place the question in the air....
What would make a child do this...to themselves

The Elders knew...
but this was not the time
to make Ameil...aware...
She blocked out the reality
Of the Shadow People long ago...

She would sooner believe that her
precious child...slit her own wrists...
than Believe....in what she already knew
was the truth...
Twilight...began to seep into the village
along with an unbearable silence...and
Ameil...still weeping, and barely breathing

Kutulinda Muumba,
Kutulinda sisi kutoka kwa watu Kivuli

Protect us Creator...(say the Elders)...
Protect us from....The Shadow People
As Swahili Verses...
blend with the setting sun

The Elders would gather in the woods
after Ameil had been given Nia's special
blend of Chammomille tea... so she would sleep.

"It has begun" Tahru said.
"We must wake the Warrior" Olutombe whispered.

The Slaughter Of the Innocent is upon us..
they all said in unison telepathicly....

As strange Shadows...
danced on the cavern walls....