December Fourteenth
By S.D. Fletcher
Slowly walking toward
the last place they smiled
little wooden desks,
bright eyed, filled with
wonder.
Time callously tugs,
voices faintly draw your
attention
as you keep walking toward
the unanswered questions.
The distant voices become
more intense as the chilled
wind
wraps herself around your
fear.
You notice the trees,
bent over, branches
weeping
trickling leaves, her
tears
gently fall at your feet,
your agony consumed
within her.
But you continue on
toward the unknown stories
being told in the middle
of the road.
The sadness smothering
every step you take,
filling your soul,
becoming your breath.
Steadfast in your quest
to understand the
thick, tangled song of
grief now sung by the
Mourning Dove.
Waves of despair
battering every living
soul
left here.
What fate awaits us
as we try to understand
The pain of death,
The madness of life,
The anguish of why,
The empty bedroom,
The last “I love you”
The first breath,
The will of God?
Then you feel the warmth,
faith’s arms gently draped
upon your shoulders.
Her watery blue eyes
reflecting your suffering
asking your question,
“Why God!”
We share this moment
in time, your grief.
Not with answers
but with love.
Your loss becomes
ours as we begin
this long journey
Together.
No “one” can take
the searing pain away.
We are all trapped
by this fate
Together.
Left to make sense
of this miserable mess
Together.
There is no answer,
Why God?
We suffer with you,
we suffer beside you.
Let the tears in our eyes,
the fury in our hearts and
the pain of impossible
loss,
become the arms
that hold you, the eyes
that greet you and
the faith that catches you.
Our love keeps you company
as the journey begins,
our love becomes the glue,
delicately holding
together
pieces of shattered
hearts.
