A coffin with remains of killed reporter Adel al-Mansouri is checked for explosive before his funeral in Kerbala, 110 km (70 miles) south of Baghdad August 1, 2006. The body of Adel al-Mansouri, a correspondent for the al-Alam television station, was found dumped with bullet holes on a street, police and the station said.
REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammad (IRAQ)

Next Door
by Joan Selinger Sidney

Oaks drag alongside the road,
weighted by yesterday's snow.
There's Frauka walking alone,
the hood of her parka
snow-lit against the trees.

I pull over.  How is he?  But before
I can answer, I see them last
summer: Frauka, and Father
leaning on Mother, wanting to believe
her will can make him well.

Sitting on the lawn,
pretending to read, I am unable
to tell them, My legs won't walk.
Go on without me.

Eleven years I've protected them--
Holocaust survivors--by not naming
my disease.  Wishing them dead
before they'd see me in a wheelchair.

Frauka whispers, My younger brother
died one day before your father.
Tears rim her eyes, her slim
body shivers in the wind.
For a moment we are closer
in our sorrow than we've ever been.
- - -
read This is what John Kerry did today, the dKos diary by lawnorder that inspired this series

love and support the Iraqi people

join CIVIC's "I Care" photo campaign

raed in the middle's blog

support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)

support CARE

support the victims of torture

read Riverbend's Bagdhad Burning

read Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches

read Today in Iraq

love and support our troops

read Ilona's important blog - PTSD Combat

support Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

view the pbs newshour silent honor roll (with thanks to jimstaro at booman.)

take a private moment to light one candle among many (with thanks to TXSharon)

support Veterans for Peace

remember the fallen

support Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors - TAPS

support Gold Star Families for Peace

support the fallen

support the troops

support Iraq Veterans Against the War

support Military families Speak Out

put a meaningful magnet on your car or metal filing cabinet

support a young heart with an old soul peace takes courage (multimedia)

poetry matters poets against war

support the troops and the Iraqi people