Faith Hope & Fiction

Thanksgiving sees me, lumbers
toward me again,
expectantly.

Good food, family, friends; warm
fire, hazy white
church spire in the distance,
pointing to heaven, but
something is missing—

not the Autumn wind, angry
that its color-symphony of fallen leaves
will soon recede, not the cotton candy
clouds, sketching all-too-familiar shapes—

it is the voices and laughter of lamented
loved ones, the essence of their touch,
the presence of so much joy they gave to us.

For all that God has sent our way,
we give special thanks, but
on this day, above all others,
I give thanks for more—

I celebrate the missing, survive
by reminiscing about those I loved
who took with them pieces
of my heart, but left behind a crop
of precious memories.

Each day I cheer, embrace
those still here, remember those
who were so much a part of me,
to them softly whisper—

I will not forget you—
Ever.