You watch as the frail, ancient man
stretches a quivering, skeletal arm
to lay his hand on the dark wooden coffin
holding his own son;
A man who can barely walk anymore,
one who has lost almost everything
and everyone
with age
but his mind and memory. 
Through heavy sobs he pleads
to anyone who can hear him,
to the One he has lost faith in,
to be taken instead.
Everything he whispers is enough
to make you
choke on the reality
of what you are watching.
Words he wishes
he could tell his boy
being murmured to cold wood.
Offering of life for life,
begging for more time
which has been stolen away
too soon
once
again.