And So You Remain Forever

The sun rises slowly in the eastern sky,
reluctant, hesitant to release light into somber darkness.
Songbirds of the morning have prepared glorious overtures,
but now, but now those symphonies seem inadequate,
and a sacred hush settles over the mourning valley.
Yesterday songs issuing from the forested mountainside
announced the joy of the new day, but that was yesterday and
you were here
you were here
you were here.


I've never felt words so misshapen in my mouth,
sharp-edged words that cut and tear,
never minding what or whom they bleed.
How can the universe change so rapidly,
succumb to the ferocity of grief
so majestically?  All because yesterday
you were here
you were here
you were here
And now you are not.


There is a jagged tear in the fabric of life,
our lives.  A cold wind paralyzes all efforts to smile,
but we know time and memory will slowly seal
the unwanted, unexpected wound,
suture the sadness back into wholeness again.
And some day, soon we hope, we will touch the
place in our hearts where there was once unspeakable grief,
and we will smile, dare to laugh because
you were here
you were here
you were here
And so you remain forever.