all that i am

We effect our world
by our presence
and even by our absence....
       attributed to B. Castranova

whether the loss of a father
before the birth of his unborn son
when his little girls are yet far too tender an age
to learn to say good-bye

or the taking away of the woman who gave life
leaving a hole where there once was a mom
creating lives to now be lived alone

or the toddler playing at your feet
on the lake side dock
going under never again to breath
and taking with him every hope
of your lifelong goals and retirement dreams

or the child you fear may never be conceived
who fills your heart with such longing
and your empty arms
without ever even having been

we are left
living these days
wherever we may be

filled with loss
filled with dashed dreams
filled with feelings we wish we had never known

and we live

present to those who yet need us
and to all that which surrounds us

or absent from the living
trying to exist as if we were not here
either

I do it
I fall into my own empty holes
walking around with tear streaked days

never noticing that there are other tear stained faces
within my reach

              Lamentations 2:19
                           Pour out your heart like water
                                 in the presence of the Lord
                           Lift up your hands to Him
                                 for the lives of your little ones.