Today I Cried Another Tear

Today I cried another tear 
As I told a beautiful little girl's mother
That her baby was dead

Today I cried another tear
As I watched her hold her little girl
Whose hair was matted with blood
Whose face bore the scars of the windshield that had taken her life
How I hated for her to see her little girl that way

Today I cried another tear
Wondering if that little girl's mother would always blame herself
Knowing that it would have been different 
If only her mother had fastened her seatbelt

Today I cried another tear
As I told a little girl
Not quite twelve
That her mother was dead

Today I cried another tear
As I watched the little girl cry
Knowing that she would never see her mother again
For her face bore the scars of the windshield that had taken her life
And I didn't want her to see her mother that way

Today I cried another tear
Wondering who would tell that little girl
About all of the changes that would come in her life
Knowing that it would have been different 
If only her mother had worn her seatbelt

Today I cried another tear
As I held my children tight
Savoring every moment that I have with them
Knowing that they could be taken from me in a second

Today I smiled another smile 
As I secured my children in the car
Knowing that I was making a difference in their lives
Knowing that I was helping to keep them in my life for another day

Today I smiled another smile
As I fastened my own seatbelt
Knowing that I was making a difference in my children's lives
Knowing that I would be in their lives for another day

-Elizabeth A. Paton