I who had never seen his face before,
Sat by his side,
Held by the anguish that his tortured eyes
Still strove to hide.

So much a soldier yet so much a child,
Facing alone
The ever deepening agony of life
And death unknown.

Silent until the very end and then—
“Mother!” he cried.
I, who had never seen his face before,
Knelt by his side.