Ah, But You Left

Ah, but you left too early

Before the toddler you'd become arrived

Who would have babbled at the table

Or leaned upon your mother's breast

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

A marble lamb with an infant's name

Ah, but you left too early

Before the child you'd become arrived

Who would have sang your alphabets

And pouted when you didn't get your way

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

A little cherub with a toddler's name

Ah, but you left too early

Before the young man you'd become arrived

Who would have learned to drive the green truck

and had trouble talking with the girls

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

A pair of shoes with a child's name

Ah, but you left too early

Before the soldier you'd become arrived

Who would have learned to serve a nation

Or challenged those who hurt the weak

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

A slab of stone with a young man's name

Ah, but you left too early

Before the father you'd become arrived

Who would have praised his child's endeavors

Or told them stories of the war

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

A white stone slab with a soldier's name

Ah, but you left too early,

Before the old man you'd become arrived

Who would have idled in the garden

Or told us stories by the fire

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

A granite cross with a father's name

Ah, but you left too early

Though your time for departure came

We would have had you live a century

And keep you here some way

Instead we've placed a marker in the churchyard

And pray we'll join you There one day

*****

Thank you for reading,

Please do leave your thoughts in the comments.