Things You Tried To Hide (For Philip and Lee)

 

 

We all believed we knew you 

The things you tried to hide

The legacy of sadness

That ate you up inside

The laughter covering the tears

The pain went up in smoke

The hesitation in your thoughts

The cryptic words you spoke

Sometimes I saw behind your eyes

The struggles you went through

I saw a thousand warning signs

Not knowing what to do

Daddy said God understands 

The souls lost in despair

And finally takes them in his arms

And keeps them in his care

Thinking of your suffering

Just tears me up inside

Wishing I had somehow seen

The things you tried to hide

 

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Gratitude: Hours Before Daybreak

 

 

In the hours before daybreak

My mind too full to sleep

Of little obligations

And promises to keep

The smell and taste of coffee

The words of some good song

Start me counting all my blessings

While waiting for the dawn

Where once I was a prisioner

Condemned by my self doubt

In time those doors were opened

And I chased those demons out

Replaced by love so tender

A life with my best friend

I finally found comfort

Inside my well worn skin

 

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Memories of Mama

 You sneaked inside my thoughts tonight

Wrapped in a Neil Young song

At times I hardly think of you

But never for too long

Memories of laughter

That took our breath away

Lessons that you taught me

Comfort me today

Grief gives way to gratitude

And wipes away the tears

Thankful for the love we shared

For nearly sixty years

So long I hoped to hear your voice

An empty wish, it seems

But love lives on forever

In our hearts and in our dreams

 

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