When asking myself 

Where the time has gone

My thought is always the same

If only I had ten minutes

To bring you up to date

Ignoring all the trivial things

We’d worried about at length 

I’d consider this brief time carefully

Savoring each second 

As they tick away

I’d reintroduce you 

To our two wonderful kids

Both amazing adults today

Each with familiar

Habits and traits

So reminiscent of you

Ten minutes

To catch up

Years of stories to relay

We’d laugh, then cry

Finally the chance

To look deeply 

Into your eyes

To hold your hand

Tightly in mine

And share 

A loving embrace

Ten minutes

Before closing

Our book forever

With a long 

Overdue goodbye

I hear your soul 

As it speaks to me 

A gentle voice 

In my thoughts and dreams

A whisper in the wind

It comforts, caresses

And consoles me

At just the right time

It intervenes

To clear my mind

So lovingly

With strong arms 

And gentle hands

It holds me

Emotionally, lovingly

It fulfills my needs

A reassurance 

That you’re always

Here with me

A reminder 

That love exists

After this life ends

That love never dies

But rather extends

A cascading wave

An echo in the wind

Love too returns

To love again

Where does love hide

On those days 

When it fades

When feelings change

Does love cease to exist

Or lock itself away 

As a protection

To remain safe

Does love turn to stone

Become calloused 

When alone

When no longer shared

When tucked on a shelf

Hidden within pages

Of an old photo book

Or pressed within glass

Dying petals 

Marking time

Desperately longing

To be revived

To feel the touch

Of another’s skin

To hear soft words 

To begin again

Where does love hide

When its tucked away

Does it turn to stone

Does it really fade 

Or does love 

Begin again

In its own time

At its own pace

When it has found 

The perfect resting place

Winds of change

Blackened the sky

Eclipsing a light 

Once so alive

In darkness 

Blinded by pain

They walked a path

That very few take

A loss so somber 

Loneliness reigned

Their innocence forsaken

They searched their faith

They suffered in silence

While eyes turned away

Their destiny sealed

By a twist of fate

Forced to mature

Far too soon

Years slowly passed 

As the storm raged on

The depth of their sorrow

Buried deep inside

Solely expressed

Within their eyes

A lonely place 

Where truth resides

Remembering my small fingers 

Clutched securely 

Within your hand

Our arms swinging 

As you walked

And I skipped 

Happily, as we laughed

While cautiously keeping step 

Avoiding sidewalk cracks 

That if stepped upon

Would break our mother’s backs

Our smiles etched reflections 

Splashed firmly upon 

Shiny storefront glass

As your grasp 

Silently signified

An undivided love to last

As I reminisce 

I recall another

Who offered me his hand

With promises kept

To have and to hold

We held on tight

Although our love 

Did not grow old

It brought forth

Two glorious gifts

That arrived precisely 

In their own perfect time

I held their little fingers 

Soundly within mine

But somehow they quietly

Slipped away

As they grew up overnight

They’re able now 

To stand alone firmly

But every once and again

We walk together

Skipping through memories

Reflections of time

That has passed lovingly by

From one generation 

To the next

Hand in hand

We’ll hold securely

Merging the future 

Forever with the past

Which path do I take

With one foot immersed 

Securely in the past 

Repeating old habits 

Hard to break 

While the other seeks autonomy

In a new and better place 

How do I become someone 

Who no longer contemplates

A life that could have been

And instead lives for today

Throwing caution to the wind

I’ll have to start slowly

Taking one step at a time 

Letting go of your hand 

That I’ve held elusively in mine

Why are new beginnings 

And necessary changes 

So very hard to invoke 

If I choose to embark on the future

Must I leave the past behind

I long to feel the suns warm rays

As they gently caress my face

While climbing 

Captivating mountain peaks

Claiming each new obstacle

One victory at a time

I’ll probably still reach for you

When I fall

It’s comforting to know 

That your hand will

Always be there 

If, only in my mind

Recollections of your love 

Give me the courage 

To converge

My once upon a time 

Life of yesterday

With the reality

That is today

Roll down my cheek

Leaving a stain

That I can never erase

Memories resurface

To remind me again

Of a raging storm 

That should never have been

Things hastily said

Emotions entwined 

Words thrown astray

Misunderstandings that

Caused immense pain

Can’t be revoked 

Or unspoken once said

A torrential downpour

Of thoughts flood my mind

I hope that you’ve found

A place warm and dry

As I never again

Want to feel 

The tears that you cry