DEAR CHILD
64
By: Wayne Brown
What is this child we give to God?
What could its life have achieved?
How could such innocence and beauty
Be taken leaving us so deeply grieved?
What child is this given to you, our God?
The very God who gave him to us
How could his little life end so suddenly?
No reason…leaving us to only trust?
What child is this in your arms Dear Lord?
Whose breathe is no longer there
How could you not help him to live on?
No reason offered; seeming not to care
What child do you take Dear God?
This little one who was ours
How can we go on without his presence?
Please God, use your great powers
What child is this bound for heaven Oh God?
Why must it be our precious love?
How will we go on alone with empty arms?
Oh God, please look down from above
What child is this forever lost, Dear God
Too soon we say our goodbyes
How will we cope in our sadness and pain?
The tears never to leave our eyes
What child is this Dear Lord, My God?
Tis’ ours to give unto thee
Please hold, love, and keep him close
In Heaven and in our hearts he’ll be
© Copyright WBrown2011. All Rights Reserved
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A lovely and poignant poem. Such a loss is heartbreaking and we are never the same-never. Life goes on. The heart beats. The sun shines. We never cease missing and wondering why.
This is beautiful.
@thebluestar...I came across that version of the song yesterday and as I listen to it, the phrase, what child is this, Dear God? kept running through my mind. I just was so overcome with writing about the loss of a child...that's what the song did for me. I wanted to related the confusion, the anger and hurt, the questioning, and then finally the release to the trust of God. I hope I accomplished those things. It was an emotional verse to write though I have never had the experience. Thank you so much for such kind words. WB
@Hypenbird...Thank you so much. What you say is true. I have never known anyone who has lost a child who ever really was the same again yet they had to go on. Surely this is the greatest burden that God puts upon us to bear. Thank you so much for the nice comments. WB
Your poetry is heartbreaking and beautiful. Up and awesome.
@breakfastpop...Thank you. This is just one of those that was inspired by a song. WB
What a precious, heart wrenching poem, beautifully written.
@Pamela99...Thank you. It was there and needed to be written...why I don't know. WB
Wayne, let me tell you, you accomplished what you intended with this heart-wrenching poem. I believe it is true empathy when one can so totally step into the heart of another and give it voice without having actually experienced what they are going through...a very touching,poignant poem...your picture is perfect for this piece. I am so impressed!
I read this poem very carefully and thought that only you have experienced the heart breaking story could you write such vividly poem. But I found I am wrong, totally wrong and I am really inspired by your writing ability. Great poem!
@No_Clue...Thank you so much. We all get lucky sometimes. I just had an inspiration and went with it. WB
@daisygreen...Daisy, never forget that one artist can so inspire another. I was looking for a video to support my poem on springtime when I came across this song by Eva Cassidy...it set the stage for my inspiration for this poem...once I listen to her sing this song which I had hear so many times, I heard the line, "What child is this" and it went from there. Don't fight your feeling and don't second guess your emotions. Most people who have experienced something have trouble relating their emotions. Don't draw boundaries for yourself...let your heart wrie the music. WB
Wayne Brown, this is so poetic and heart-breaking. Thank you for writing this. Take care.
Oh my, this is so hard to wrap your head around. Something one probably can't truly understand/appreciate unless you are a parent. Such a strong love and an immense loss.
Wait -- did you say somewhere/sometime that you weren't a poet?? Need to change that image. You are quite talented in making people feel/believe/understand feelings/moods with limited/powerful words.
If you haven't already -- check out
bMalin's hub on the same subject in http://hubpages.com/hub/HEY-GODby-b-Malin
@prairieprincess...Thank you for reading it. I am so glad that you liked it and I hope you will return and read some of my other work.
@Truckstop Sally...I always said that I was a "lemonade stand poet"...someone not to be taken so seriously. In poetry, I work from inspiration more so that in any other genre. We all have feelings and emotions that arise within us. Music brings many out in me and in this case this particular song brought me here to this place and I wrote the poem. I have never lost a child. I have dwelled on the thoughts of those who have and cannot imagine a loss so great or so questioning. As I listened to this song I felt that pain, that questioning, that cry out to God to make it go away. I felt those things and I need to share them in this verse. In the end, I knew that the child was gone but I also knew the experienc must return its trust to God and accept the loss. So many people have done this and they live on never to be the same again but God and their trust in God is all they have for the moment. WB
Gut-wrenching, digging emotions out of the reader--it dug emotions out of me. Thumbs up & beautiful.
@Ken R. Abell...The song took me in that direction and I went with the inspiration. Maybe someday it will be clear to me as to what the importance of it really was. Thanks much, Ken. WB
I loved this - it is full of feeling - no words to describe how much this meant to me. It does. Thanks Wayne for giving what you've got - beautiful!
Wayne, this is beautiful. An inspiring, heart-felt poem that when spoken to or read by someone who has lost a child could provide much encouragement in their bereavement. Thank you for sharing. Voted up and awesome.
@RealHousewife...Music and songs can be such an inspiration and that was true in this case. Glad you like it! WB
@Beck Puetz...Thank you! I hope that it can have the effect you describe...that would be great if someone could receive such comfort. WB
Very well done. Simple and direct, the way good writing should be.
@Radioguy...That's the only way I saw to get there with this one. Thanks much for your comments. WB
Thanks Wayne for making my eyes get all watery, just before I am going on a lunch meeting.....NOW, I gotta think about the Chicago Bears and firing up my chainsaw...
seriously, an extremely touching poem, that every parent thinks about at some point of time.
:)
@CMerritt...You are correct, we parents do think of such and we are cut so deeply when it happens to anyone...even those we do not know. The death of a child in this world is such a bitter pill to swallow and it pulls at the seams of our faith. Thanks much and be careful with that chainsaw! LOL! WB
Multi-faceted, from gut wrenching to beautiful!
Awesome!
Wayne, asked the same questions in this poem about 18 years ago when I lost my stepson. Thanks again for sharing.
@dallas93444...Thanks...glad I could evoke that spectrum of emotions for you. WB
@A.A. Zavala...My condolences. I cannot imagine a harder thing to face than the death of a child. As I wrote this, I found myself getting all the emotions...at times wanting to scream some of the verse. I hope that it was not upsetting for you to read this...not my intent. Thanks again. WB
I lost my goddaughter some time back, and there is nothing harder on parents when this happens. Nothing. Beautiful and poignant words to describe feelings that are almost impossible to express. Thank you.
@Genna East...So sorry to hear of that loss Genna. I agree there is nothing worse for parents or family. I hope these words do bring some comfort. I certainly would not want them to be upsetting. WB
....well you hit all of the poetic bullseyes with this one! A work of tender poignant sublime art says the epi-man! (who dosen't get paid for saying this kind of thing) and a bonus video - with the late great Eva Cassidy who had an amazing voice and made her song her own!
I also wrote one the other day myself about children smiling ....... Mister B you're very inspiring!
@epigramman....Thank you, Colin. Eva's rendition of this song was just so beautiful that as I listened to it I could not keep these thoughts from entering my mind. At that point I was compelled to put the words on paper...the song and the artist performing it was my only inspiration. I am so pleased that you liked it. WB
You touched a cord of sadness to so many of us here with these poignant heart wrenching gut twisting words of loss of a child. I pray that all children of the world who leave us so young and delicate are immediately breathed life again by our God and are reunited into another soul and reborn to eternity. Bravo, applause...simply beautiful verse.
Thank you for this beautiful poem and sharing with all of us. Your words touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes,it is a wonderful poem.
@saddlerider1...This one came about as I listen to this song, Ken. It was a different inspiration for me. Thanks for your good words! WB
@deedeelaw...Thank you DeeDee...it was a sad subject that just he'd to come out. WB
Very beautiful Wayne. God bless!
@Micky Dee ...Thanks much Micky... much appreciated! WB
Wayne Brown, Thank you for heart- breaking poem you are the most inspirational poet;
I will be back often in your page.
God bless/Diana .
@Jeflea Norma Diana...Thank you for those kind words. In writing this poem I attempted to find the emotions of a parent who had lost a young child. I have never experience such a loss and had to rely somewhat on the feelings that I experienced when I lost my father in 2007. I hope you return again soon. WB
thebluestar Level 6 Commenter 15 months ago
omg Wayne what a tear jerker. Beautifully written and one for me to share with my sister in law who lost her child recently. Danny Boy always makes me cry, it is often played at funerals here in Ireland. You are still my inspiration.