The worst of her pain

Lies hidden away

In broken pieces 

She’s unable to grasp

So often she was told 

That her grief would pass

If she stood tall and strong

It couldn’t possibly last

Sadly she knows now 

That words evoke lies

Does she blame a voice

Should she even try

After so many tears

She’s perfected a mask 

To conceal a face

No longer recognized

Her reflection, a betrayal

Of a tortured soul

She counts the days

But sadly she knows

The time doesn’t always

Work as they say

Wounds don't heal

Quite, so easily

So many days

I’ve stared at this page

Searching for words

To help me explain

That I tried my best

To carry us through

The steepest mountains

On the darkest terrain

Trying to repel

What I couldn’t touch

A raging battle

An invisible fight

You, so young, so innocent

Never deserved

Nor could comprehend

That a shattered life

Would never

Be the same again

Each day quickly came

As we blindly ran

But there was no escaping

Fates awful plan

You may have thought

That I’d forgotten you

Or that you didn’t matter

In this life, so new

But you are 

What guided me

All those lonely nights

To find our future

You were the light 

With hope in your eyes

You gave me strength 

To never quit

And to remember why

With wounded wing

She attempts to fly

Against the wind

On the darkest of nights

Above a blanket

Of fresh fallen snow

Ascending alone, she begins

The long, cold journey home

Her scars remain deep

From the torrential storm

That cast her afar

Abandoned, lost

Weary, her wings tremble

To stay aflight

Until dawn finally emerges 

Among tranquil skies

Safe and secure 

Within the sun’s 

Warm golden rays

She begins her descent 

To a better place

After so many years 

Of silent nights

Chestnuts roasting 

And fires alight

You’re still here

Within the glow

Of dancing flames

And falling snow

I sense your presence

Around my tree

And remember 

All the things

That you gave to me 

Our beautiful children

An abundance of love 

Your forever gifts 

That will always give

They paint the season

With colors so bright

Hues of red, greens 

And the softest of white

Brighter than any 

Twinkling lights 

And more precious

Than silver and gold

Are the memories 

That I invariably hold

Although Christmas 

Will never be the same 

With warm thoughts of you

We celebrate

Your love transcends 

It never fades

In colors so vibrant 

And ever alive

Empty boots 

Stand at attention

Quietly beside the door

They appear to be waiting

For orders

To march back into war

So many times they’ve carried

Their brave soldier home

From bloody battles

Fiercely fought

Across the entire globe

Their mission always

To defend freedom 

At home 

And on foreign land

These boots now

Remain at rest

In silence, 

They still stand

As a legacy

To the sacrifice 

That their courageous soldier 

Selflessly earned

They wait, unaware

That they’ve taken

Their final step

They wait, unknowing

That their soldier

Drew his final breath

Cowering under covers

Unable to breathe

Awakened by a fear 

That refuses to leave

Invading my dreams

It’s always the same 

In a deafening silence

I hear my own cries

Piercing the darkness

Again on this night

A sword to my heart

As memories ignite

A life taken

A lifetime in vain

There’s no escape 

From yesterday

As the sun slowly rises 

Taming shadows to fade 

Tears fall

To wash away the pain

It’s gone for now

Veiled by day

Awaiting darkness

Where light doesn’t stray

I’d give anything now 

For the phone to ring 

To hear your voice 

Quietly whispering

Asking me 

How my day has been 

And reminding me 

That soon  

We’d be together again

We’d spend hours talking

Until our “goodnight”

I’d hold the phone

So close and tight

I’d have laughed 

To hear someone say 

That these simple moments

Would be some 

Of my best days

I never knew then

How quickly 

Life could change

That you’d be gone  

In only one day

Our forever plans

Are forever changed 

Lost in dreams of yesterday

I’m trying to be strong 

As you’d want me to be

But tears find their way

Into my best memories