Innocence

"Mommy, can you tell me
What happened to Mary Jane?
I thought she would be home by now.
Why is daddy in so much pain?"

And so her mother sat her down,
Held her tiny hands within her own.
How do you explain a tragedy
To a girl not yet full grown?

And how do you explain
To a girl no more than five,
That her sister won't be coming home;
Cause of death? Suicide.

And how do you explain that
Not everyone's happy with their lives?
Mary Jane was consumed with her depression
And a sick fascination with knives.

So taking in a shuddering breath,
Tears glistening in her eyes,
The mother said in a mournful tone,
"Honey, your sister died.

"She won't be coming home today,
Tonight, tomorrow, or next week.
But don't you cry, she's an angel
Looking down on us as we speak."

But mother's darling daughter
Was too young to comprehend,
Too innocent to understand
That her sister's life came to an end.

"Mommy, it's been three months now
Will my sister be home soon?
Her birthday will be coming up,
And I want to give her a balloon."