A38 War Broke Out

Lourdes City was concerned About Bernadette, its dear child, As there was no news about her Even thro’ any newspaper. The Mayor sent his secretary. Followed by her sister Marie, Along with other kith and kin, All led by Father Pomian, It was a good gathering To see one fine morning. They exchanged greetings In that happy meeting. They talked about their past, How the time moved fast, How Lourdes had grown, They missed her and so on. They saw her paintings, Also colorful drawings, And praised her imagination, That was beyond description. After they were all gone, She reverted back again To the same old routine Art work one by one. At that stage, war broke out. The French soldiers fought. They faced defeat after defeat, Besides their Emperor’s arrest. The emergency need was Hundreds of nursing sisters To take care of the wounded In the hospital wards. Bernadette also volunteered Though she was prevented, Because she was very weak After the last asthma attack. But she was more concerned, About those sick and wounded, Rather than her own health, Even if she had to face death. Her spirit of sacrifice At that hour of crisis Was so high, they felt. She was born for it. The Mother Superior, And her former teacher, Sarcastically asked her Why she was popular? Bernadette simply smiled Her left leg she then showed. Like that of a child’s head, A big tumor got exposed. It gave the Mother a shock, And she stood like a rock, Motionless and speechless, On seeing her real kindness.