|
THE PHOTOGRAPH
He stood there in the chapel
As he clutched the photograph.
No words were spoken from his lips
All he could do was gasp.
He held the photo to his chest
As tears streamed down his face
Hoping for a miracle
In that "forever goodbye" place.
He glanced down at the photo.
Then a tear fell from his eye
And landed right upon the heart
Of his child that had to die.
No one understood the pain
This grieving father felt.
So they hugged him and his photograph
Not knowing how to help.
This photograph seemed magical
And helped him to understand
That for his child... this one last time
He had to be a man.
So he stood up proud and tall that day
And listened as they spoke
About the life of his child
He still needed in that photo.
He held on to that photograph
Through painful days and weeks.
But finally had to let it go
And let it rest in peace.
Just a stained and wrinkled photograph
Although much more than it seemed
It gave him strength to bear the pain
Never dreamed in his worst of dreams.
This cherished tearstained photograph
Is now a testament to us all
That tears can touch the silenced heart
Of a grieving father's child.
© 2008 - Christine Ross
~ in memory of Lucas Christopher Ross 1979 - 2001
|
|
