Judy

It’s been two years

And time has flown

A time for tears

And now I’m grown

 

Empty inside

No words on my tongue

Inside myself I hide

Only memories of feeling young

 

Writing comes slowly now

Where once it used to flow

I just can’t remember how

To make the words to go

 

Two years have passed

Since that October when

Dark shadows were cast

Around words like amen

 

Cold and wet

Were the earth and the air

As were the faces I cannot forget

Rain soaking their windswept hair

 

Folding chairs

And a bright blue tent

Thoughtless prayers

Preceded her dissent

 

A preacher she had never met

Climbed the stage to speak

Masses he managed to upset

Knowing not what damage he had wreaked

 

Never had she gone to church

Which he said was the key

From my seat I wanted to lurch

And promptly disagree

 

He gave a speech on Hell and fire

And how she’d go to the pearly gates

He only inspired the audience to ire

As he predicted all our fates

 

My dad stepped up to speak

Bidding this preacher to leave

And though the day was bleak

Allowed everyone to grieve

 

Dispelling the anger within the crowd

He gave his address

Of which his mother would be proud

Soothing our solemn stress

 

When he stepped down tears were shed

Still in disbelief

That my grandma was dead

And that there would be no relief

 

Food was passed out after

No one ate but scraps

Later we heard subtle laughter

This lent to a slight lapse

 

Her great-grandson Jake

Had disappeared outside

For a momentary break

He had climbed atop a giant slide

 

And declared himself king

At three he did not quite understand

This dark depressing thing

Only that there was no helping hand

 

To aid him when he stood

Upon his new kingly perch

Or tell him to be good.

Only a mass of saddened people inside the church

 

His mother lured by drugs

Had left him with her

And even now left him with no hugs

In favor of more liquor

 

As things wound down and he climbed back down

I sat beside him on the swings

In place of a crown now traced across his lips a frown

And I reminded him of these things

 

He stared at me for a second

But the frown never strayed

Realization had hit I reckoned

As we sat there in the shade

 

How little he knew how his life would change

How grandpa would remarry

Replacing her with an unwelcome exchange

And how nights would be scary

 

In his own mother’s home

Where strange men came through

And were let to roam

With no one to take him to the zoo

 

He soon moved from here

To his other grandfather’s house

Still with no one to lend him a kind ear

He was as quiet as a mouse

 

To see that such a thing can do so much

Leaves me saddened to the core

Without her kind touch

He and I both yearn for before

 

And so now I write

Though it is now more a chore

Without the inspired light

I once wrote with before

 

But still I write

In hope of better days

Where the world is once again bright

My cousin’s eyes once again ablaze.Judy

It’s been two years

And time has flown

A time for tears

And now I’m grown

 

Empty inside

No words on my tongue

Inside myself I hide

Only memories of feeling young

 

Writing comes slowly now

Where once it used to flow

I just can’t remember how

To make the words to go

 

Two years have passed

Since that October when

Dark shadows were cast

Around words like amen

 

Cold and wet

Were the earth and the air

As were the faces I cannot forget

Rain soaking their windswept hair

 

Folding chairs

And a bright blue tent

Thoughtless prayers

Preceded her dissent

 

A preacher she had never met

Climbed the stage to speak

Masses he managed to upset

Knowing not what damage he had wreaked

 

Never had she gone to church

Which he said was the key

From my seat I wanted to lurch

And promptly disagree

 

He gave a speech on Hell and fire

And how she’d go to the pearly gates

He only inspired the audience to ire

As he predicted all our fates

 

My dad stepped up to speak

Bidding this preacher to leave

And though the day was bleak

Allowed everyone to grieve

 

Dispelling the anger within the crowd

He gave his address

Of which his mother would be proud

Soothing our solemn stress

 

When he stepped down tears were shed

Still in disbelief

That my grandma was dead

And that there would be no relief

 

Food was passed out after

No one ate but scraps

Later we heard subtle laughter

This lent to a slight lapse

 

Her great-grandson Jake

Had disappeared outside

For a momentary break

He had climbed atop a giant slide

 

And declared himself king

At three he did not quite understand

This dark depressing thing

Only that there was no helping hand

 

To aid him when he stood

Upon his new kingly perch

Or tell him to be good.

Only a mass of saddened people inside the church

 

His mother lured by drugs

Had left him with her

And even now left him with no hugs

In favor of more liquor

 

As things wound down and he climbed back down

I sat beside him on the swings

In place of a crown now traced across his lips a frown

And I reminded him of these things

 

He stared at me for a second

But the frown never strayed

Realization had hit I reckoned

As we sat there in the shade

 

How little he knew how his life would change

How grandpa would remarry

Replacing her with an unwelcome exchange

And how nights would be scary

 

In his own mother’s home

Where strange men came through

And were let to roam

With no one to take him to the zoo

 

He soon moved from here

To his other grandfather’s house

Still with no one to lend him a kind ear

He was as quiet as a mouse

 

To see that such a thing can do so much

Leaves me saddened to the core

Without her kind touch

He and I both yearn for before

 

And so now I write

Though it is now more a chore

Without the inspired light

I once wrote with before

 

But still I write

In hope of better days

Where the world is once again bright

My cousin’s eyes once again ablaze.Judy

 

It’s been two years

And time has flown

A time for tears

And now I’m grown

 

Empty inside

No words on my tongue

Inside myself I hide

Only memories of feeling young

 

Writing comes slowly now

Where once it used to flow

I just can’t remember how

To make the words to go

 

Two years have passed

Since that October when

Dark shadows were cast

Around words like amen

 

Cold and wet

Were the earth and the air

As were the faces I cannot forget

Rain soaking their windswept hair

 

Folding chairs

And a bright blue tent

Thoughtless prayers

Preceded her dissent

 

A preacher she had never met

Climbed the stage to speak

Masses he managed to upset

Knowing not what damage he had wreaked

 

Never had she gone to church

Which he said was the key

From my seat I wanted to lurch

And promptly disagree

 

He gave a speech on Hell and fire

And how she’d go to the pearly gates

He only inspired the audience to ire

As he predicted all our fates

 

My dad stepped up to speak

Bidding this preacher to leave

And though the day was bleak

Allowed everyone to grieve

 

Dispelling the anger within the crowd

He gave his address

Of which his mother would be proud

Soothing our solemn stress

 

When he stepped down tears were shed

Still in disbelief

That my grandma was dead

And that there would be no relief

 

Food was passed out after

No one ate but scraps

Later we heard subtle laughter

This lent to a slight lapse

 

Her great-grandson Jake

Had disappeared outside

For a momentary break

He had climbed atop a giant slide

 

And declared himself king

At three he did not quite understand

This dark depressing thing

Only that there was no helping hand

 

To aid him when he stood

Upon his new kingly perch

Or tell him to be good.

Only a mass of saddened people inside the church

 

His mother lured by drugs

Had left him with her

And even now left him with no hugs

In favor of more liquor

 

As things wound down and he climbed back down

I sat beside him on the swings

In place of a crown now traced across his lips a frown

And I reminded him of these things

 

He stared at me for a second

But the frown never strayed

Realization had hit I reckoned

As we sat there in the shade

 

How little he knew how his life would change

How grandpa would remarry

Replacing her with an unwelcome exchange

And how nights would be scary

 

In his own mother’s home

Where strange men came through

And were let to roam

With no one to take him to the zoo

 

He soon moved from here

To his other grandfather’s house

Still with no one to lend him a kind ear

He was as quiet as a mouse

 

To see that such a thing can do so much

Leaves me saddened to the core

Without her kind touch

He and I both yearn for before

 

And so now I write

Though it is now more a chore

Without the inspired light

I once wrote with before

 

But still I write

In hope of better days

Where the world is once again bright

My cousin’s eyes once again ablaze.Judy

 

It’s been two years

And time has flown

A time for tears

And now I’m grown

 

Empty inside

No words on my tongue

Inside myself I hide

Only memories of feeling young

 

Writing comes slowly now

Where once it used to flow

I just can’t remember how

To make the words to go

 

Two years have passed

Since that October when

Dark shadows were cast

Around words like amen

 

Cold and wet

Were the earth and the air

As were the faces I cannot forget

Rain soaking their windswept hair

 

Folding chairs

And a bright blue tent

Thoughtless prayers

Preceded her dissent

 

A preacher she had never met

Climbed the stage to speak

Masses he managed to upset

Knowing not what damage he had wreaked

 

Never had she gone to church

Which he said was the key

From my seat I wanted to lurch

And promptly disagree

 

He gave a speech on Hell and fire

And how she’d go to the pearly gates

He only inspired the audience to ire

As he predicted all our fates

 

My dad stepped up to speak

Bidding this preacher to leave

And though the day was bleak

Allowed everyone to grieve

 

Dispelling the anger within the crowd

He gave his address

Of which his mother would be proud

Soothing our solemn stress

 

When he stepped down tears were shed

Still in disbelief

That my grandma was dead

And that there would be no relief

 

Food was passed out after

No one ate but scraps

Later we heard subtle laughter

This lent to a slight lapse

 

Her great-grandson Jake

Had disappeared outside

For a momentary break

He had climbed atop a giant slide

 

And declared himself king

At three he did not quite understand

This dark depressing thing

Only that there was no helping hand

 

To aid him when he stood

Upon his new kingly perch

Or tell him to be good.

Only a mass of saddened people inside the church

 

His mother lured by drugs

Had left him with her

And even now left him with no hugs

In favor of more liquor

 

As things wound down and he climbed back down

I sat beside him on the swings

In place of a crown now traced across his lips a frown

And I reminded him of these things

 

He stared at me for a second

But the frown never strayed

Realization had hit I reckoned

As we sat there in the shade

 

How little he knew how his life would change

How grandpa would remarry

Replacing her with an unwelcome exchange

And how nights would be scary

 

In his own mother’s home

Where strange men came through

And were let to roam

With no one to take him to the zoo

 

He soon moved from here

To his other grandfather’s house

Still with no one to lend him a kind ear

He was as quiet as a mouse

 

To see that such a thing can do so much

Leaves me saddened to the core

Without her kind touch

He and I both yearn for before

 

And so now I write

Though it is now more a chore

Without the inspired light

I once wrote with before

 

But still I write

In hope of better days

Where the world is once again bright

My cousin’s eyes once again ablaze.Judy

 

It’s been two years

And time has flown

A time for tears

And now I’m grown

 

Empty inside

No words on my tongue

Inside myself I hide

Only memories of feeling young

 

Writing comes slowly now

Where once it used to flow

I just can’t remember how

To make the words to go

 

Two years have passed

Since that October when

Dark shadows were cast

Around words like amen

 

Cold and wet

Were the earth and the air

As were the faces I cannot forget

Rain soaking their windswept hair

 

Folding chairs

And a bright blue tent

Thoughtless prayers

Preceded her dissent

 

A preacher she had never met

Climbed the stage to speak

Masses he managed to upset

Knowing not what damage he had wreaked

 

Never had she gone to church

Which he said was the key

From my seat I wanted to lurch

And promptly disagree

 

He gave a speech on Hell and fire

And how she’d go to the pearly gates

He only inspired the audience to ire

As he predicted all our fates

 

My dad stepped up to speak

Bidding this preacher to leave

And though the day was bleak

Allowed everyone to grieve

 

Dispelling the anger within the crowd

He gave his address

Of which his mother would be proud

Soothing our solemn stress

 

When he stepped down tears were shed

Still in disbelief

That my grandma was dead

And that there would be no relief

 

Food was passed out after

No one ate but scraps

Later we heard subtle laughter

This lent to a slight lapse

 

Her great-grandson Jake

Had disappeared outside

For a momentary break

He had climbed atop a giant slide

 

And declared himself king

At three he did not quite understand

This dark depressing thing

Only that there was no helping hand

 

To aid him when he stood

Upon his new kingly perch

Or tell him to be good.

Only a mass of saddened people inside the church

 

His mother lured by drugs

Had left him with her

And even now left him with no hugs

In favor of more liquor

 

As things wound down and he climbed back down

I sat beside him on the swings

In place of a crown now traced across his lips a frown

And I reminded him of these things

 

He stared at me for a second

But the frown never strayed

Realization had hit I reckoned

As we sat there in the shade

 

How little he knew how his life would change

How grandpa would remarry

Replacing her with an unwelcome exchange

And how nights would be scary

 

In his own mother’s home

Where strange men came through

And were let to roam

With no one to take him to the zoo

 

He soon moved from here

To his other grandfather’s house

Still with no one to lend him a kind ear

He was as quiet as a mouse

 

To see that such a thing can do so much

Leaves me saddened to the core

Without her kind touch

He and I both yearn for before

 

And so now I write

Though it is now more a chore

Without the inspired light

I once wrote with before

 

But still I write

In hope of better days

Where the world is once again bright

My cousin’s eyes once again ablaze.Judy

It’s been two years

And time has flown

A time for tears

And now I’m grown

 

Empty inside

No words on my tongue

Inside myself I hide

Only memories of feeling young

 

Writing comes slowly now

Where once it used to flow

I just can’t remember how

To make the words to go

 

Two years have passed

Since that October when

Dark shadows were cast

Around words like amen

 

Cold and wet

Were the earth and the air

As were the faces I cannot forget

Rain soaking their windswept hair

 

Folding chairs

And a bright blue tent

Thoughtless prayers

Preceded her dissent

 

A preacher she had never met

Climbed the stage to speak

Masses he managed to upset

Knowing not what damage he had wreaked

 

Never had she gone to church

Which he said was the key

From my seat I wanted to lurch

And promptly disagree

 

He gave a speech on Hell and fire

And how she’d go to the pearly gates

He only inspired the audience to ire

As he predicted all our fates

 

My dad stepped up to speak

Bidding this preacher to leave

And though the day was bleak

Allowed everyone to grieve

 

Dispelling the anger within the crowd

He gave his address

Of which his mother would be proud

Soothing our solemn stress

 

When he stepped down tears were shed

Still in disbelief

That my grandma was dead

And that there would be no relief

 

Food was passed out after

No one ate but scraps

Later we heard subtle laughter

This lent to a slight lapse

 

Her great-grandson Jake

Had disappeared outside

For a momentary break

He had climbed atop a giant slide

 

And declared himself king

At three he did not quite understand

This dark depressing thing

Only that there was no helping hand

 

To aid him when he stood

Upon his new kingly perch

Or tell him to be good.

Only a mass of saddened people inside the church

 

His mother lured by drugs

Had left him with her

And even now left him with no hugs

In favor of more liquor

 

As things wound down and he climbed back down

I sat beside him on the swings

In place of a crown now traced across his lips a frown

And I reminded him of these things

 

He stared at me for a second

But the frown never strayed

Realization had hit I reckoned

As we sat there in the shade

 

How little he knew how his life would change

How grandpa would remarry

Replacing her with an unwelcome exchange

And how nights would be scary

 

In his own mother’s home

Where strange men came through

And were let to roam

With no one to take him to the zoo

 

He soon moved from here

To his other grandfather’s house

Still with no one to lend him a kind ear

He was as quiet as a mouse

 

To see that such a thing can do so much

Leaves me saddened to the core

Without her kind touch

He and I both yearn for before

 

And so now I write

Though it is now more a chore

Without the inspired light

I once wrote with before

 

But still I write

In hope of better days

Where the world is once again bright

My cousin’s eyes once again ablaze.