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 sandal’s thong

Their toes will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

Their feet

will never know ocean’s 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 one’s touch

Their hearts will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

Their lungs

will never know of laughter’s bliss

will never breathe their fill of Spring

will never taste a campfire’s 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 don’t know”

will never carry pack on trail

will never ache from paddle’s 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 pole’s 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 drop’s 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 Winter’s 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 Gogh’s 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 child’s return

will never hear a word of praise

will never dangle glittering jewel

will never rejoice a dear friend’s 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 Agatha’s hints

Their minds will never know these joys

nor will we play our part in them

Their voices

will never sing at new day’s dawn

will never whisper words of hope

will never tug a parent’s 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 death’s 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