But why, but how?

 

Einstein reads the letter

torn and stained with blood

received from the German front line.

A black hole in the beautiful fabric

of the universe he has woven.

He thinks to himself:

But why, but how?

She stands outside the funeral

of those killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing

dressed in her white maid uniform

left arm across her waist

right hand gently touching her lower lip

blank eyes staring off into nothing ask:

But why, but how?

The young man sits on the hospital bed

a terminal judgment delivered.

by doctor with expressionless face,

in monotone voice that says,

"Go home and prepare."

The young voice pleads:

But why, but how?

Way up on the mountain,

in a tree succumbing

to bark beetle blight,

in a high branch,

sits a bird that sings:

But why, but how?