Sun beat down a fierce opponent, <br />to my overheated body. So I <br />laced up my shoes, to walk down <br />to our little corner store. I grabbed <br />my little sister's hand. Bouncing, <br />she looked at me with bright, <br />innocent, eyes. <br /> <br />Sweaty hand in mine, we walked, <br />and like the little girl she was, <br />she asked 'why is the sky <br />so blue? ' and like the know-it-all <br />teenager I was I said 'because <br />that's the way it is.' And we got <br />our ice cream and went home. <br /> <br />Tears streamed down, a fierce opponent, <br />to my useless comfort. So I hugged <br />my sister tighter, whispering platitudes <br />to the woman in my arms. Nothing <br />could make it better, but I <br />did my duty and tried to <br />slow her tears. <br /> <br />Face pressed into me, she cried, <br />and like the young woman she was <br />she asked 'how could he do this <br />to me? ' and like the helpless <br />young woman I was, I said 'because <br />that's the way it is.' And I just <br />held her tighter. <br /> <br />Standing hesitantly on the grass, <br />reflection staring back at me, I gently <br />rubbed the headstone. And like <br />the bereaved sister I was, I answered <br />the unspoken question. 'Because <br />that's the way it is.'<br /><br />Rachel Mac<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/because-that-s-the-way-it-is/
