Life is fragile.
You never know
When tragedies come
Or when people will go.
Baby boy
Born too soon
You were so fragile-looking
Shiny, tiny, breathless, lifeless.
How I longed to hold you
But I was afraid
That I might break you more.
I awoke in the middle of the night
Realizing that I had not (held you)
And wept.
It was too late.
They had taken you away.
But I took solace in
The thought that Jesus
Was holding you in heaven.
I also knew
That after tests
You would be returned to me
For burial.
I hoped that then
I could hold you.
You were, and I did.
You were so small,
Lying in my palm
But strangely with more form,
So perfectly formed
For your age.
All the fingers and toes,
All the nails in place.
But no working heart,
No breath of life in you.
Isaac shared a feather with you
To play with in heaven.
The hummingbird watched
As we buried you,
Darting back and forth.
Emerald green, fading to black,
Piercing eyes.
He made me think of
Heavenly beings from prophecy.
He watched us the whole time,
Darting back and forth.
You reminded me
That life is fleeting
I need to enjoy
The children I have with me now.
For you are already
Enjoying the Lord,
And we will meet you someday!
My precious baby Reuben.
© 2013 Thrive.
Question to Consider: Poetry has the power to impact us deeply. How has this creative expression touched you?