Two Pieces of Paper and a Photo

She searches through his remnants Trying to find her broken pieces Had she been important to him? She finds a single piece of yellowed paper Her name written in his elegant hand Those hands that had held her once Strong hands She had felt safe in those hands Unaware of his weakness, his lacking Why had he left? She kept looking though drawers and boxes Feverishly searching for answers Only one photo Taken so very long ago Proof that they had been part of his life The proof felt like a knife Those young faces smiling at her Blissfully unaware of what was to come Daddy was leaving He wasn't coming home again She hands the photo to her sister There must be more She keeps searching Unaware of what was important to him Wanting more clues Answers Reasons Another piece of paper Her sisters name with her children listed underneath The grandchildren he never got to know She can't help wonder Why were they not enough And she realizes it was his lacking It was never theirs There was nothing they could have done They could not be better girls Happier girls Good enough girls! He was broken Lonely long before them His remnants scattered Indecipherable She looks at her sisters They cry together Sad for the loss of what they did not have Yet beneath the tears they smile Holding each other's delicate hands For they possess a strength he never had They have stayed together Loved each other Carried each other's burdens Resilient Loving Caring They have survived If he had known them He would have been so proud Dedicated to and inspired by Bev Smith.