Richard Lamoureux Poet Free verse

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.

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Anna Hopper April 2, 2015 at 8:17 AM Beautiful! Richard Lamoureux April 2, 2015 at 8:52 AM Thanks Anna.

Monterey Sirak March 21, 2015 at 8:36 AM Stunning! The one line "He was broken..lonely long before them" could ease so much unwarranted guilt. Richard Lamoureux March 21, 2015 at 8:47 AM Interestingly, before I clicked on my poem I knew it was you who had commented. Thanks for the kind visit Monterey.

Scott Thirtyseven March 12, 2015 at 7:24 AM Very dramatic, very moving. Written in a way that we take this journey as we read. Well penned poetry. Richard Lamoureux March 12, 2015 at 8:15 AM Thanks Scott,

Casarah Nance March 11, 2015 at 9:16 PM Oh what a story, I felt like I was right there living that moment with them. Nicely done! Richard Lamoureux March 12, 2015 at 8:15 AM Thanks Casarah.

David Meade March 10, 2015 at 2:06 PM Well done my friend . . . a broken man, unspoken love, the tears of searching . . . may we always express our love . . . . 7 Richard Lamoureux March 11, 2015 at 8:56 AM Thanks David. ;0)

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders March 10, 2015 at 2:02 PM A beautiful dedication...I am touched. Sometimes the answers are so simple but hurt none the less...hugs, Rhonda Richard Lamoureux March 11, 2015 at 8:57 AM Thanks and a big hug back to you.

Paul Callus March 10, 2015 at 12:33 PM Heartfelt and touching write that many can relate to. A jigsaw puzzle that perhaps will never be finished since pieces would have been lost in the passage of time. #7 Excellent poem, Richard. // paul Richard Lamoureux March 11, 2015 at 8:58 AM I like your metophor Paul.

Cecilia Macfarlane March 10, 2015 at 12:05 PM Impressive Richard, you draw us in with your words of wisdom, so many people think that it's there fault when their love one's leave, you flipped the coin beautifully here. A excellent and moving write! Hugs Richard Lamoureux March 11, 2015 at 9:00 AM Thanks and hugs Cecilia. It is natural for kids to blame themselves when a parent leaves.

Demetrios Trifiatis March 10, 2015 at 8:52 AM Captivating deep writing, searching for clues in the corridors of human soul! Majestic, dear Richard! Richard Lamoureux March 10, 2015 at 9:08 AM Thanks Demetrios.

Kp Nunez March 9, 2015 at 6:34 PM "Sad for for the loss of what they did not have." Other than the last line, this one jumped from the page, the saddest feeling a person can feel, before realization of the truth in "he would have been so proud". Again, Richard you have outdone yourself. Need I say more? :) Richard Lamoureux March 10, 2015 at 8:06 AM Sure go ahead say more *lol*. Kidding aside, thanks for this awesome response.

Jessica Thompson March 9, 2015 at 6:10 PM Beautifully written Richard. I can see how the story unfolds with beauty and sadness.. Well done my friend :) Hugs, Jess Richard Lamoureux March 9, 2015 at 6:27 PM Thanks Jessica.

Nette Onclaud March 9, 2015 at 3:25 PM this is profound and heartfelt, rich... we sometimes forget what is truly meaningful in life.. you got me!.. thanks for making me part of your past contest.. huggs Richard Lamoureux March 9, 2015 at 6:28 PM Thanks and a big hug!

Njeri Hunjeri March 9, 2015 at 6:48 AM Wow. Very deep. My fav line "For they possess a strength he never had" Richard Lamoureux March 9, 2015 at 8:46 AM Thanks so much Njeri.

Charmaine Chircop March 8, 2015 at 10:06 PM Yes if only He wasnt broken..If only He could see behind those dsrk glasses..He would have been proud..and Yes sometimed we keep searching for the moon andmiss the stsrs..Sometimes we get lost in what could have been to forget what it is and how beautiful it is..This poem moved me in many ways Richard. Richard Lamoureux March 9, 2015 at 8:48 AM Good morning and thanks Charmaine! ;0).

Arthur Vaso March 8, 2015 at 8:52 PM The title was amazing, and yes this time, I had an idea where you would take this before reading, loved it all the more for guessing right!!!

Arthur Vaso March 8, 2015 at 8:50 PM Now this brings tears to my eyes, how is it we drift so, I wonder, is it not the poets, who see and feel all the pain in the world, is it they who push loved ones away, afraid of the hurt, then they become old. Arthur Vaso March 9, 2015 at 3:53 PM Yes Richard, so true, although this made me think of more than just fathers, sometimes grandparents, family's drift apart and so I read this one on a few different levels!Sometimes we only realize what matters in life when is too late. Also why I loved this one. Richard Lamoureux March 9, 2015 at 8:50 AM This is a sad story that has been experienced by so many. Absent fathers who have no idea what they are missing out on.

Jan Allison March 8, 2015 at 6:03 PM I am simply blown away by the sensitive way you have deal with such a tough subject - I am sure many people could relate to this write - the final 10 lines brought tears to my eyes - wow - he would have been proud had he been around!:-) Hugs Jan 7 xx Richard Lamoureux March 8, 2015 at 7:13 PM My step dad once said to me that if my Dad was alive he would be so proud of me. It really touched me.

Tim Smith March 8, 2015 at 4:00 PM In searching for what they were missing they found what they had...excellent...a7 Richard Lamoureux March 8, 2015 at 7:13 PM Thanks Tim!

Emile Pinet March 8, 2015 at 1:50 PM "He would have been so proud" these words sum up nicely the atmosphere that this poem conjures in its reading. Hope guides the affection of two souls devoted to each other in bonds of trust and grief that support and strengthen their resolve to experience life together and to the full. Emile. #7+++ Richard Lamoureux March 8, 2015 at 2:20 PM Thanks once again Emile. You are good g For my ego dear friend.

Eileen Manassian March 8, 2015 at 1:26 PM Oh Richard....How did you write this with such understanding. That shines through in your book. You know so much for the workings of the human mind. I thought that often....as I read through. Such depth of understanding....You should have been a psychiatrist/psychologist/pastor/counselor/POET! HUGS Eileen Manassian March 8, 2015 at 4:15 PM I'm well aware of that, Richard. :) I'm grateful that you're content and happy. Richard Lamoureux March 8, 2015 at 3:52 PM I am not complaining, I have received my education in an untraditional way. I am thankful for what I have learned and the interesting career I have enjoyed. Eileen Manassian March 8, 2015 at 2:21 PM School is just a degree. You have wisdom beyond that. The wisdom from above is way beyond this wisdom of man. You have degrees in heaven's school, my dear. Never forget that. Richard Lamoureux March 8, 2015 at 2:19 PM Thanks Eileen, I guess I will settle for poet and friend. Hugs back to you. If I had gone on in school I would have been attracted to all of the above.

Mama Bear March 8, 2015 at 11:55 AM Beautifully written How many families have gone through this and wondered? Did you not also have those questions in your life? Some times we are not enough to make people stay and be happy Never our faults but theirs You did this well Love Mom Richard Lamoureux March 8, 2015 at 2:17 PM Thanks mom, I read some of Bev's poems and it brought back memories of going through dad's stuff.