End of An Era



On this day in nineteen ninety four

Jackie Kennedy went out the door

And an era ended on that very day

For she was the epitome of grace always

-

After surviving the trauma of sixty-three

When Jack was killed inches from where she

Sat next to him in that convertible limousine

With John Connally and his wife teamed ...

- 

Together, and in the jump seats just in front

When those shots rang out, and two men slumped

One with severe injuries to his head and his back

The other with one bullet which had made its track

-

Through the governor's back, arm, wrist and into his thigh

The miraculous pristine bullet ... my, how it could fly!

And her husband Jack, at once grasped his throat ...

Where a bullet had left a gaping hole as it choked

-

And as she reached out to grab Jack's arm

Another bullet shattered his skull - to her alarm

And then she started clambering out of the car over the lid

Either to retrieve part of his skull, or more likely, to be rid

-

Of that horrible scene of which she was the closest witness

The most terrible business America has ever assessed ...

For it colored perceptions of everyone who saw ...

And created opposing controversies forever more ...



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

10:15am Wed. May 19th, 1999