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March 28-August 2, 2019

 

Our Great Loss

A lament for our lost children

Our lives are poorer for their loss

 

Their toes

will never dance a new mown lawn

will never dig and play in sand

will never careless circle dirt

will never feel a sandals thong

 

Their toes will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their feet

will never know oceans cold delight

will never sprint across too-hot sand

will never try on a brand new shoe

will never follow the parental step

 

Their feet will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their legs

will never run the sunset down

will never romp a day with friends

will never pedal bike or board

will never race against the wind

 

Their legs will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their knees

will never dandle new born babe

will never balance plate and cup

will never teasing nudge a friend

will never for a question kneel

 

Their knees will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their hips

will never try to find the beat

will never carry belt of tools

will never bump open a door

will never sway through a crowd

 

Their hips will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their arms

will never comfort sobbing child

will never hug parent grown too old

will never try to block a pass

will never share a soft embrace

 

Their arms will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their hands

will never hold a lover close

will never cause a sigh too soft for words

will never skip rocks across a creek

will never point to aim a run

 

Their hands will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their hearts

will never pound at special glance

will never know the joy of rest

will never feel the pang of pain

will never leap at dear ones touch

 

Their hearts will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their lungs

will never know of laughters bliss

will never breathe their fill of Spring

will never taste a campfires smoke

will never gasp at sudden shock

 

Their lungs will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their shoulders

will never shrug an “I dont know”

will never carry pack on trail

will never ache from paddles dip

will never stop to share a load

 

Their shoulders will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their lips

will never in private night arouse

will never greet a long-lost friend

will never wrap around a spoon

will never kiss away an ow

 

Their lips will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their mouths

will never speak a loving word

will never tease an ice cream cone

will never dare a flag poles cold

will never feel a missing tooth

 

Their mouths will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their cheeks

will never feel the Summer sun

will never from hard labour flush

will never crease with rosy joy

will never feel a rain drops kiss

 

Their cheeks will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their noses

will never above a moustache pose

will never shrink from Winters blast

will never smell a fresh cut Rose

will never to a window press

 

Their noses will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their eyes

will never view a golden Fall

will never Van Goghs art caress

will never glow in fire light

will never tear at tender word

 

Their eyes will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their ears

will never listen for a childs return

will never hear a word of praise

will never dangle glittering jewel

will never rejoice a dear friends voice

 

Their ears will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their minds

will never win glory over math

will never craft a thought or care

will never by discussion grow

will never guess at Agathas hints

 

Their minds will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

 

Their voices

will never sing at new days dawn

will never whisper words of hope

will never tug a parents heart

will ever scream their silent pain

 

Their voice forever silenced

for our silence at their deaths

 

Their lives

are betrayed by selfishnesses inconceivable

are forsaken by those who should best love

are destroyed with scarce a thought or care

are extinguished by deaths remorseless lie

 

Their lives will never see their day

for all the days we just stood aside

 

Yet ours may be the greater loss

our lives stand forfeit as we stand by

 

And we, we who stand by and let this be,

may God have mercy on our souls

 


Our Great Loss

A poem by Peter Rhebergen

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