We Sorrow with You

I just want to take a moment to offer a word of comfort to the Brown family and to all of those families who have lost a loving family member needlessly and tragically.

There is not much that can be said at this time.  Just know that you are not alone in your sorrow.    To you I offer these words:

I wish I could say the hurt will go away

I wish I could say I understand what you are going through,

I wish I could say this will be the last time you have to feel this way.

There is so much I wish I could say.

Truth is there is nothing I can say to make the hurt go away

It hurts me to know that you sorrow

It hurts me to know you feel pain.

Time alone will give you some semblance of relief

                                 And smooth the agony of your grief.   

It is not to say sometimes you won’t sorrow or weep,

But one day you will be able to look back on your time together without unbearable pain.

Until then, take comfort in knowing that every memory and every smile was not only a gift

 but a timeless treasure that goes beyond measure.

 Having lost a mother and a father this year, I know your pain.

I wrote this poem in October 2012 after my Mother passed away.  It is still like yesterday to me.

              Gone

Sometimes I pray I’m having a dream

And just don’t understand what it means

It already feels like forever since you departed.

I am so broken-hearted.

I keep reaching for the phone to call you

Like I used to do

Then I remember once again

You just can’t imagine how hard it has been.

I’ll never hear your voice or feel your touch.

I miss you so much.

The quiet peacefulness that was yours alone

It’s just gone.

The words of comfort I shared with others before

Don’t mean anything anymore.

Nothing can change the reality

You will still be-

Gone

They says things will get better with time

Those words were even mine

Nothing prepares you for this

It’s different when it’s someone you love that you miss

It’s hard to believe you will never see their smile or feel their kiss

You’ll never be able to share the little things you used to share

Cause they’re not there.

I knew how hard this would be

But it’s harder than I ever thought it would be

They say time alone will heal a heart that is shattered

But right now time doesn’t matter.

Today, tomorrow, next week

There is no comfort I can seek

Words,

Words, are just words

When you’re all alone

And someone you love has just gone.

I know you’re in a better place,

But I still want to see your face.

I know you wouldn’t want to return,

But for you, I still yearn.

I feel no disgrace

For telling you I’m in this place.

When it’ someone you love, you’ll understand.

I pray one day I can

Right now, this is my reality

When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll still feel the same

Nothing will take away the heartache or the pain

That comes with missing you

There is nothing I can do

Nothing can change the reality

You’ll still be-

Gone

Lord open the windows of heaven flood our souls

With words of comfort yet untold

We need your spirit to fall fresh on us

Giving the comfort only you can give

Each day we live

Family Reunion-We are Family

                     

When it comes to family reunions,

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even if things don’t go well,

Everyone has a memory to treasure,

What matters most is the time spent together.

No matter the family name

Every reunion seems the same.

There’s always a favorite Grandpa,

Or Grandma,

A favorite Aunt or Uncle,

Who keeps the family going.

Without knowing,

They are the family glue

That cements the memories
everyone holds onto.

If we keep living,

There are some things that are a given

One day, we will be gathering
in our favorite park under a tree

Trying to see what we can see,

Checking out everyone that comes within sight,

To see if their pants are too tight

Or their skirt is too short.

There is always the gathering of the family court.

The women gather to discuss
who has gained weight since last year

While the men go where the women can’t hear,

Grab a brew and discuss who is doing who.

It’s almost like a competition.

The one you least expect makes an admission.

Of all people, Uncle George, says he’s been creepin

While Aunt Mamie is sleepin.

Everybody looks at him and rolls their eyes

Cause they know he ain’t doing nothing but talking lies.

You see, it don’t take a wizard

To determine that Aunt Mamie is, as Grandma would say,

Crazier that a road lizard.

Besides, Uncle George just ain’t going out that way.
He knows from experience that Aunt Mamie don't play.
Every family has a Madea.

To box the children’s ears

And keep everyone else in place.

There is always the family disgrace.

You know, the person who gets drunk and throws up all over the place.

Inevitably, somebody makes a liquor run and disappears

Only to reappear

Like magic, just before everyone says their last goodbyes.

Nobody bothers anymore to wonder why.

What would a reunion be without a little excitement?

It seems as if someone is hell bent

On causing a fight.

It doesn’t matter, because this time next year nobody remembers that night.

Well, they might remember,

But come September,

They are already making plans for the next reunion.

After all who wants to miss the family reunion?

When it’s all said and done, we are and always will be, family.

We will always forget our differences and sing, “We are family

I got all my people with me.”

We are family!

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris