These days of loss take a toll…
Each person trying to make sense
Of the emptiness, sadness, and hope
Each person hoping the pain
Will quickly slide away
Leaving something positive behind
These days of loss take a toll…
Four times now
It has gotten too close to me
Four times now
I’m still confused about dying
And nothing seems to be getting easier to understand
But goodness still comes through
These days of loss take a toll…
By my reckoning
I’ve lost to addiction, choice, disability, and fate
By my reckoning
There is no rhyme, no reason to these losses
Only the whim of unknown forces
Leaving us to sort our lessons and memories
These days of loss take a toll…
Having allowed me to reflect
On the magnitude of my remorse
Having allowed me to reflect
On the greatness of the men
Who in their passing
Have allowed me to become a better man
My grandfather, his demons bottled
His weakness well known
And directed away from me
His weakness well known
A downfall to be respected
I miss his cigarettes, his easy listening music, his waterfall toilet
Most of all, I miss him
My brother, his battles mighty
His weakness well known
As a sense of honor set insanely high
His weakness well known
And unable to live with the betrayal of others
I miss his prickly hair, his goofy smile, his love of classic rock
Most of all, I miss him
My other grandfather, his illness harbored
His weakness well known
In the duty and honor of stillness and hard work
His weakness well known
In the image of a humble handy man
I miss his short finger, his buttermilk and corn bread, his quiet power
Most of all, I miss him
My father-in-law, his destiny ordained
His weakness well known
Born in duty and humility
His weakness well known
As a stately family man
I miss his laugh, his handshake, his curiosity
Most of all, I miss him
Each man
With so much to give
Gave all he had
So we could be better
Their lives sometimes bitter
Other times sweet
Left with us the power to continue
Their legacies
Of durability, trust, ethos, and family
I give thanks for their influence
Showing me that even in weakness
Strengths will rise
So that in these latest days of loss
We can rally, remember, and recover
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