When the darkness of night is held back by the stars
And a soft glowing moon lights the skies
As if on the wings of a soft butterfly
It is then that my memory flies.

My heart holds volumes of memories so dear
An ocean of joy and of pain
Memories long passed filled with laughter and tears
Times with mom I can never regain

What happens when a body dies?
When the soul, the spirit leaves?
Where does the essence of someone go?
When the living are left to grieve?

As each drop of life slowly trickles out
And the stage quietly fades to black
When death is silent and darkness lingers
And life offers no passage back.

Are you standing next to us, holding our hand?
When our burden seems not to subside?
Is your energy now part of the universe,
And helps your children survive?

We are owed nothing.
Not the sunrise tomorrow.
Time is something we are given,
Not to spend, lend or borrow.

But to use with great gusto
With those we desire
With people we love
Who feed our same fire.

I'd like to dissolve in those moments with mom
Where time would seem not to exist
And I'd tell her the things I neglected to say
And linger for one final kiss.

We love you, mom. Now and forever.
Even though we still often cry
We're lucky to have loved and been loved by you
It's so hard to say goodbye.

11/05