rain

she falls

trying so hard,

so desperately

to wash away 

the dirt

the grime

the blood

that covers the earth

like a mother 

scrubbing her son's shirt

over,

and over again.

but the boy

puts on the shirt

and gets dirty again.

and so the mother 

scrubs

and slowly

wears it thin.

one day,

the shirt will tear

and the boy

will have nothing to wear.