Get Your Premium Membership

Mourning In My Arms

Really, only five years have past
Since your son’s abandoned car was found,
	No note,
		Along side sea cliffs
		North of Santa Cruz,
		After failing with pills,
			Too many times.
	No body either,
		Though at times I prayed for that.
Wincing now myself at your pain
	As you hand beggars at streetlights
	A few dollars, as you pray, heart broken,
	Some empathetic soul is doing the same
	For your son, should he still be alive,
Watching your head turn wistfully to search the face
	Of distant beggars on the wrong side of the street,
	Both of us feeling in our hearts that he is gone.

Rested, before dawn breaks,
I close the distance night has sanctioned,
	Move closer,
		Take you in my arms
		Feel tension release
		As sleep finds its meter,
			Breath its rhyme.
	The body’s warmth
		Giving dreams new assurance.
The sweet sound of your sleeping
	Now informs my answered prayer
	Deft moves that fluff me into compliance
	Help me to trust some needs at least are met,
	My own sleep, pulls on my sleeve like a child,
As watchful still, I succumb to warmth of your heart,
	That even in its half-full, depleted state,
	Still has the power to make my sun rise.


Brian Johnston
December 5, 2015

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 12/5/2015 4:12:00 PM
A good literary piece that can cheer up somebody that had undergone a misfortune.
Login to Reply
Date: 12/5/2015 6:12:00 AM
Amazingly beautiful, sad and moving.
Login to Reply

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry