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Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Nick's Eyes

(I think I must have channeled a country music writer for this one. I have no other explanation!)



Blue As the Sky by PinkLemonDesigns
She has eyes like her Daddy's
of cornflower blue
the brightest you've seen in your life
She's been on this earth
for only ten years
and already seen too much strife
Her brother left home
at the age of sixteen
he's hustlin' somewhere on the street
Her mother is bitter
a widow too young
but her girl's brought her nothin' but sweet
So why won't you see her?
Why won't you call?
It's gettin' tough telling her lies
I know that you miss him
I know that it's hard
to look at her and see
Nick's eyes.

Those crazy bright blue eyes
your son gave to her
You always knew that they were kin
She was your favorite
though you'd never tell
but the day Nicky passed on was when
You covered her pictures
won't utter her name
turn your back to her although she cries
It hurts you too much
to look at her face
because what you see are
Nick's eyes.

Nick was your son
seems a crime against God
You always thought that you'd go first
Losing somebody 
leaves a hole in your soul
and losing your child is the worst
But you're not the only one
crying at night
There's a little girl praying she dies
Her Daddy's in heaven
and her Grandpa won't call
she can't understand though she tries
So please go and see her
Give her a call
She don't need to say more goodbyes
Her blue eyes are glassy
so hug her real tight
and look for the smile in
Nick's eyes.

10 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Wow. This is a heartbreaker of a poem. Just fantastic! You told such a tender story!

Fireblossom said...

So sweet and sad, LM. But...YOU, country? I'll be hornswaggled. Thanks for being part of my prompt!

Mary Ann Potter said...

Yes, a country song for sure. Impressive. Your imagery and rhythm are haunting, just like those blue eys.

Brian Miller said...

smiles...i'd drop a quarter in that jukebox...yeah i get a little country in this, but that aint a bad thang...

Kay L. Davies said...

Oh my goodness, country music or not (or maybe because), this is a heartbreaker — and "a little girl praying she dies" is gut-wrenching as much as it is heartbreaking. Copyright it, then send it to a country singer.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

Pat Tillett said...

WOW! That is so powerful and sad. I read it twice just now and loved it even more the second time.

Kerry O'Connor said...

This contains worlds of grief - a real plea to those who become crippled by loss. Sometimes the living also die at the moment of their child's death, but are forced to continue breathing. So sad.

Scarlet said...

Yes, I can hear the blues in this post. I like the story you weave here though its sad and poignant. A child dying and hurting moves me...this is a lovely post ~

JustRex said...

Wow. I can hear that one belting out on a juke box in any honky tonk bar anywhere in the country. One of those slow sad songs that always makes the cowboys misty eyed.

Other Mary said...

Oh wow...(sniff) that's a real tear-jerker. Well done, the first two stanzas are my favorites.