Sweet Sixteen

You were seventeen
I was fifteen
There were two
Then there was one
The One who is left

Mom immersed in what-ifs
Sits at the kitchen counter
Death supersedes life
My here and now disappears
Into your not-to-be future

Dad in pained denial
Runs another thousand miles
Returns with his pretender
Found in Butte Montana
Who stays awhile

Every night 
Alone
Insulated by bedroom walls 
The pain -- rebuffed all day
Roils up

And I understand forever
Mortality is real
The empty spaces 
Tell me
Just how gone you are

But I am still here
How am I to fix this?
How am I to feel this?
How am I to be?
The One who is left
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Poet Avatar
December 10, 2010 at 5:01 AM
Beautiful write!-kashinath
Loving Iii Avatar
December 9, 2010 at 1:13 PM
with words like these you can fix anything. your expressions are flawless and ideals come accross clearly. you express your feelings with deep emotions telling present situations and wondering out loud how to handle them. you'll grow out of them. one day you'll understand the cruelty of the world. but to the negativity you can add your positive powers to make loses into gains. keep useing your pen. it is a gift to you. use it well John Henry Loving III
Brown Avatar
December 9, 2010 at 4:47 AM
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt poetry today Mary. I enjoyed reading it and I wish you a wonderful day. Love, Carol
Walsh Avatar
December 8, 2010 at 11:26 AM
The pain of this must be indescribable - beautifully written - well done! Liz
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