The Compassionate Friends, MA/CT Border Towns Chapter Library
Poetry/Verses
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me Love
A Day, A Week, A Lifetime Angel of Hope
To Those I Love To All Parents
Grandparents Remembrance A Message to My Son Pete
Please, don't ask...
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
By David Romano
(copyrighted 1993)
When tomorrow starts without me
And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things
We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me ...
As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand.
She said my place was ready
In heaven far above;
And that I'd have to leave behind,
All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I'd always thought
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday
Just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized
That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories
Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things
I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates
I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne.
He said, "This is eternity
And all I've promised you;
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it all starts anew."
"I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last;
And since each day's the same day,
There's no longing for the past."
"But you have been so faithful,
So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things,
You knew you shouldn't do."
"But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free;
So won't you take my hand
And share my life with me?"
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart ...
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here ... in your heart.
Author Unknown
A million times we've missed you,
a million times we've cried.If love could have saved you,
You never would have died.Things we feel most deeply
Are the hardest things to say.Our dearest one, we have loved you
In a very special way.
Author Unknown
When I wake up in the morning
I ask myself
How will I get through this day
Without YouAs I dress and prepare to start my day
I wonder
How will I go on
Without YouAs the day slowly slips away
I remember how you made me laugh
And I smile
Without YouAt the end of the day
As I prepare to close my eyes
I know in my HEART
I couldn't have gotten through the day
Without YouWhen I wake up in the morning
I ask myself
How will I get through this day
Without YouAs I dress and prepare to start my day
I wonder
How will I go on
Without YouAs the day slowly slips away
I remember how you made me laugh
And I smile
Without YouAt the end of the day
As I prepare to close my eyes
I know in my heart
I couldn't have gotten through the day
Without You
By Nancy Taylor
One day my heart was singing
A sweet and delightful tune
When suddenly I realized
My higher power was coming through
indeed as I was listening
to the words he did impart
I felt a deepening gladness
Touch the recess of my heartHe once again assured me
In the stillness of my soul
he children who have left us
Now enjoy a beautiful home
Where the sun is always shining
And no tears are ever foundIn the mansions they are dwelling
With many angels dancing ‘round
The birds are always chirping
As the butterflies fly about
Kissing noses, cheeks and red lips
While the children leap and shoutHence beside each stands an angel
Of hope they’ve grown to know
In such a way their love is
As pure as new fallen snow
Their hearts are not down trodden
But they wait in endless glee
To embrace their moms and daddies
As the waves bouncing o’er the seasBe certain friend whenever
A child greets the heaven’s high
Their age is of no meaning…
Unlike their souls prancing in the skies
Thus the glory once embedded
Goes on mysteriously
With the life that was intended
To last eternallyIn His Love, Nancy
Author Unknown
When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears
Be thankful for our beautiful yearsI gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness
I thank you for the love you each have shown
But now it’s time I traveled on alone.So grieve awhile for me. If grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart.I won’t be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call, and I will come
Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All of my love around you soft and clear.
Susan Mackey TCF, Rutland VT
We are the grieving grandparents, the shepherds of
our children and grandchildren’s lives. Our grief is
two-fold and at times we feel powerless to help. We
seek to comfort our children in the depths of their grief
and yet we need the time and space to face our own
broken hearts. We have been robbed of the special
tender touch a grandparent shares with a grandchild,
and we have lost a symbol of our immortality. As we
walk by our child’s side, we both give and draw
strength. We reach into their hearts to comfort them,
and when they reach out to us in their distress, we
begin the journey to heal together. We continue to be
their guardians. We allow traditions to change to
accommodate their loss. We support the new ones,
which symbolize the small steps on their journey. It is
in their healing that our hearts find comfort.
By Barbara Morton - A bereaved parent of Pete Salvatore
11/03/57 - 4/7/97 - TCF - MA/CTIt's been 6 years since you passed away
You would have been forty-five...
I wonder how much our lives would change,
If you (Pete) were still alive...I thought I saw you the other day.
I was standing in line at this place.
I saw this person right in front of me,
I could have almost touched his face.His clothes were the same as you wear.
He wore his hair just like you do.
And, when I stepped aside of him,
he had the exact same mustache as you.This place was crowded; people were talking
but when we came face to face,
I couldn't hear any voices at all it was like:
just you and me in this place!But, all the people were still in there
now I could hear them and I could see.
Then, I got a really strange feeling,
that no-one could see YOU, but ME!My order was ready - I got in the car,
but I just sat there and cried.
Did I really imagine all what I just saw?
Or were you standing right by my side?Then, it happened - he came out the door.
I watched him as he walked away,
& his walk was the same as yours -
you know how you walk with a sway?
I watched him until he was out of sight.
Now, I had to go home and tell Lou...
Was this all my imagination? Or,
Oh My God, did I really see you?At home I told Lou the whole story
(thru the crying and sobbing) who I met,
and then he told ME a surprised story!
It's something I'll never forget!A few weeks before this happened,
we were dining at this very same place
when in the door walked this same guy,
Lou said now HE was face to face!He told me that in that same moment,
he couldn't believe his eyes.
He didn't want to mention it to me,
It's hard enough when someone dies!They say we all have a twin somewhere
Believe me, I saw yours that day.
It brought back a lot of memories...
There's one more thing I'll say:
It's been 6 years since you passed away.
You would have been forty-five.
I know how much our lives would change
If you (Pete) were still alive!
By Edgar Guest
I'll lend you for a little time,
A child of mine he said.
For you to love there as he lives,
And mourn when he is dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty two or three.
But will you, 'til I call him back,
Take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And shall his stay be brief.
You'll have his lovely memories,
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there,
I want this child to learn.
I've searched the wide world over,
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labor vain.
Nor hate me when I come to call,
To take him back again?
I fancied that I heard them say,
Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we've known,
Will ever grateful stay.
But shall the angels call for him,
Much sooner than we planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
.....And try to understand.
Please, don't ask...
Please, don't ask us if we're over "it" yet.
We'll never be over it.
Please, don't tell us they're in a better place.
They aren't with us.
Please, don't say, "At least they aren't suffering".
We haven't come to terms with why they had to suffer at all.
Please, don't tell us you know how we feel
unless you have lost a child
Please, don't ask us if we feel better.
Bereavement isn't a condition that clears up.
Please, don't tell us, "At least you had them for a time".
What year would you choose for your child to die?
Please, don't tell us, "God never gives you more than you can bear".
Please, just tell us you are sorry.
Please, just say you remember our children, if you do.
Please, just let us talk about our children.
Please, mention our children's names.
Please, just let us cry.
Author: Rita MoranBack to Top
