Following Kere's accident, there were many things (even now) that I began to do, that I had never done before. Many, many times, I thought I was losing my mind. For those of you that have walked in my shoes, you know exactly what I mean. One of the things I began to do was develop a real interest in anything to do with angels. I have read countless books on "angels". One other area of interest. . . became poetry. Included on this page are poems that for reasons that are not always clear, became very special to me. When the author is known, I have included that as well. If any of them bring you comfort as they have me. . .feel free to make a copy for yourself.
This page has become so lengthy, I have added a Table Of Contents For Convenience:
SISTER
Dreams are broken and
shattered with a crash.
It broke the flowing tide
of our happy laughs.
Stopped with a sudden shiver
and then no life, not even a sliver.
Taken before her precious time.
It has to be an evil crime.
Now no time is left to cry,
but I wish I could even try
to bring her back.
The skill, I sadly lack.
No one is here for me, it seems.
This could only be a bad dream.
She was lost forever with a snap.
Time then froze where I sat.
This no longer seems fair,
but somewhere I still care.
Hey sister! I really need you,
but I can no longer be with you.
I guess this act freed you
from this cruel life.
This poem was written by Kere's brother,
Chris, very shortly after her accident.
He framed it and put it on her "place".
Dear Friend:
Go ahead and mention my child, the one that died, you know.
Don't worry about hurting me further, the depth of my pain doesn't show.
Don't worry about making me cry, I'm already crying inside.
Help me to heal by releasing the tears that I'm trying to hide.
I'm hurt when you just keep silent, pretending she didn’t exist.
I'd rather you'd mention my child, knowing that she has been missed.
You asked me how I'm doing, I say "pretty good" or "fine",
but healing is something on-going, I feel like it will take a lifetime.
I'M FREE
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.
MEN DO CRY
I heard quite often "men don't cry"
Though no one ever told me why
So when I fell and skinned a knee
No one came to comfort me.
And when some bully boy at school
Would pull a prank so mean and cruel
I'd quickly learn to turn and quip,
"It doesn't hurt", and bite my lip.
So as I grew to reasoned years
I learned to stifle any tears.
Though "be a big boy" it began,
Quite soon I learned to "be a man".
And I could play that stoic role
While storm and tempest wracked my soul
No pain or setback could there be
Could wrest one single tear from me.
Then one long night I stood nearby
And helplessly watched my son die,
And quickly found to my surprise
That all that tearless talk was lies.
And still I cry and have no shame
I cannot play that "big boy" game,
And openly without remorse
I let my sorrow take it's course.
So those of you who can't abide
A man you've seen whose often cried,
Reach out to him with all your heart
As one whose life's been torn apart.
For men do cry when they can see
Their loss of immorality.
And tears will come in endless streams
When mindless fate destroys their dreams.
This poem literally tore me up!
It is one of the most beautiful
pieces, I have ever read in my life.
ANOTHER CHOICE
"I don't know how you do it,
I couldn't have done the same."
These sometimes are the words I hear
As I say my daughter's name.
"I had no other choices,"
Is often my reply;
I must learn to live without her,
or shrivel up and die.
It's way down on the inside
Where one can never see,
Way deep within. . .
Is the missing part of me.
It's when you do not see me
That I cry my silent tear,
Or feel the empty hurt inside,
Because she is not here.
I would choose it to be be different,
I would choose to feel no pain,
I would choose to only smile,
As I say my daughter's name.
So if you wonder how I do it,
I will quietly raise my voice,
"I wouldn't have done it this way,
If I'd had another choice."
My feelings exactly!
This pain is awful and agonizing.
To My Dearest Family;
Here’s some things I’d like to say,
but first of all to let you know
that I arrived okay.
I’m writing this from Heaven
where I dwell with God above,
where there’s no more tears,
or sadness, there is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy
just because I am out of sight.
Remember that I’m with you
every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you
when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me
and he said "I welcome you"!
It’s good to have you back again
you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family,
they’ll be here later on.
I need you here so badly,
as part of My big plan.
There is so much we have to do
to help our mortal man.
Then God gave me a list of things,
he wished for me to do.
And foremost on that list of mine
is to watch and care for you.
I will always be beside you
every day and week and year.
And when your sad,
I’m standing there
to wipe away the tear.
And when you lie in bed at night
the day’s chores put to flight,
God and I are closest to you
in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth
and all those loving years,
because you’re only human
they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry
it does relieve the pain.
Remember, there would be no flowers
unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you
of all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you,
you wouldn’t understand.
But one thing is for certain
though my life on Earth is over,
I am closer to you now
than I ever was before.
And to my very many friends,
trust God knows what is best.
I’m still not far away from you,
I’m just beyond the crest.
There are rocky roads ahead of you
and many hills to climb,
but together we can do it
taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy
and I’d like it for you too,
that as you gave unto the world,
so the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody
who is in sorrow or in pain.
Then you can say to God at night,
my day was not in vain.
And now I am contented
that my life. . . it was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way,
I made somebody smile.
So if you meet someone
who is down and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up
as on your way you go
When you are walking
down the street,
and I am on your mind,
I’m walking in your footsteps
only half a step behind.
And when you feel the gentle breeze
as the wind upon your face,
that’s me giving you a great big hug,
or just a soft embrace.
And when it’s time for you to go
from that body to be free.
Remember. . . you’re not going,
you are coming here to me.
And I will always love you,
from that land way up above,
We’ll be in touch again soon.
PS: God sends His love.
A LIFE LOST
I have lost a life
~ not my own.
But it would
have been easier
to have lost
my own life
than to have
lost the life
I loved more
than my own.
SO YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND???
You say to me, "It's been a year,
when will your grieving end?"
"Why can't you be like you once were,
my smiling happy friend?"
If you really want an answer,
though, I wonder if you do,
I'll take you deep inside me,
where sadness dims the view.
First, my "friend", for your sake,
come close and take my hand,
And we will pray that what I share,
you won't have to understand.
The me you once knew is no more,
it died with my child,
A voice was stilled forever, yet,
the echo drives me wild.
You say you lost Aunt Betty,
so you have known death too,
Aunt Betty, however, was not your child,
and she was eighty, not twenty-two
I barely survived those first months,
coping was a dreadful task,
I'd tell you I was fine,
while sobbing behind my mask.
If I talked about my precious child,
you turned away in fear,
You couldn't stand to see me cry,
nor would you share my tears.
I wanted to speak of her, please,
won't you say her name?
But, you pretend she never was,
so she died over and over again.
Oh, I see that you're uncomfortable,
you no longer want my hand,
so as it was before we talked, my "friend",
you don't want to understand!