Claire's Lament

A desk by the window is empty today "Claire's not here Miss", I heard Charlotte say The classroom is silent and no one knows why Mrs Johnson is wiping the tears from her eyes A door slowly opens The Headmaster walks in In his hand is a paper His expression is grim I have some sad news, I'm sorry to say Claire will be missing from school today John Preston was yearning for artistic success He travelled the world but he failed to impress Rejection, frustration and anger within Destroyed the creations that were precious to him He abandoned ambition For a quieter life In a Worcestershire village With his children and wife But demons of failure haunted his head He'd fight with the gun, kept under his bed The cottage was blazing; men broke down the door The gun and John Preston were laid on the floor His wife in her nightdress, at the foot of the stairs His dog and son Stephen were slumped in a chair And there in the back room "Asleep" on her bed An angel lies peaceful With a hole in her head "She sat by the window", I heard Charlotte say Claire will be missing from school today