Left Behind - a Catharsis

What withered limb is this I grasp? Once held me close and in my youth Protected me and comforted My innocence and fears Now tears she can no longer dry And words once soothing fail to come And so the stretching silence swells As do my shrouded tears I struggled to return the peace That was her gift to all she loved And she they loved because she was And that was all she asked But now in ceaseless silence rings Her voice, too loud for words to quell Too weak and never to be heard Again, despite our need The tears that she no longer sees Fall heavy in the hearts that beat In those to whom she once gave life And giving life gave hers So past and passing all move on Beyond their times and all that was Must cease to be yet those who pass Will leave behind themselves