Because That's The Way It Is Poem by Rachel Mac

Sun beat down a fierce opponent,
to my overheated body. So I
laced up my shoes, to walk down
to our little corner store. I grabbed
my little sister's hand. Bouncing,
she looked at me with bright,
innocent, eyes.

Sweaty hand in mine, we walked,
and like the little girl she was,
she asked 'why is the sky
so blue? ' and like the know-it-all
teenager I was I said 'because
that's the way it is.' And we got
our ice cream and went home.

Tears streamed down, a fierce opponent,
to my useless comfort. So I hugged
my sister tighter, whispering platitudes
to the woman in my arms. Nothing
could make it better, but I
did my duty and tried to
slow her tears.

Face pressed into me, she cried,
and like the young woman she was
she asked 'how could he do this
to me? ' and like the helpless
young woman I was, I said 'because
that's the way it is.' And I just
held her tighter.

Standing hesitantly on the grass,
reflection staring back at me, I gently
rubbed the headstone. And like
the bereaved sister I was, I answered
the unspoken question. 'Because
that's the way it is.'