Hello to All,
I saw this yesterday at my "other" Petloss site. I took the liberty of posting it here because I can only hope it touches someone, anyone, as much as it did me. The author is RoboBon, AKA "Rob" and I want to acknowledge his wonderful poem and hope it inspires all who read it. Peace

Words Overheard Near a Rainbow

I couldn't keep you young forever
I couldn't keep you from growing old
Though I tried to forever keep you healthy
Keep you safe and warm from the cold

I couldn't save you from that illness
I couldn't save you from that plight
I tried to save you, oh how I tried
But I could just not make it right

I couldn't save you from that water
I couldn't save you from that fire
I tried to protect you from everything
To keep you safe was my only desire

I couldn't save you from that accident
I couldn't save you from being attacked
I would if I could, change everything
If it could only bring you back

I couldn't find you when you went missing
I couldn't find you anywhere
My heart in pieces, I searched for you
Please don't think that I didn't care

I left the room for your final breath
Oh how that haunts me so
I love you more than words can say
I couldn't bear to watch you go

I couldn't see the bad things coming
How could I miss so many signs
If love could keep you alive forever
You'd be here, you'd be just fine

I wasn't with you when you slipped away
I was miles away when you died
I had no idea that you were going to be gone
So many tears now I have cried

It hurt my heart to see you suffer
It tore my soul to see you in pain
The look in my eyes, I didn't want goodbyes
I just wanted you home again

Forgive me for not saving you
Forgive me for letting go
Please forgive me for so many things
I love you more than you know

I sit now and stare at memories
Of loss and disbelief
Not a single thing is sheltered from
This complete and tearing grief

I think of every moment
I think of all the years
The years we shared, or could have shared
I just can't stop these tears

I absolutely love you
It is absolute this pain
How I absolutely miss you
Not a thing here feels the same

Your presence was my sunshine
Your voice my favorite song
Oh so alive, the very essence of life
How in the world can you be gone

I thought I saw you in a shadow there
I think I hear you in the occasional sound
Sometimes at night, when all is still
I could swear that you're still around

I walk this world without you now
If I were to walk it everywhere
Every thought, every step, every beat of my heart
You'll be always with me there

If I were to stand on the edge of a mountain
If I were to gaze out over the sea
Don't you know that you're there, deep in my soul
Absolutely everywhere with me

I try to put it all back together
My life, my soul, my heart
But to live this life without you now
I just don't know how to start

~ ~

Do you remember the day that you found me
Do you remember the day that we met
You saved me then from so many fates
That you cannot realize yet

You couldn't save me from that illness
You couldn't save me from that plight
But I was safe so long from so many things
And I was happy day and night

You couldn't keep me young forever
I couldn't keep from growing old
But every moment with you was a lifetime of love
To let the truth be told

You would have saved me from that water
You would have saved me from my fate
You would if you could, I know you would
So please love yourself , don't hate

You couldn't save me from the accident
You couldn't save me from that foe
Think of the life that we shared, all the magical times
Oh how I dearly love you so

You couldn't find me when I went missing
Of course I know how hard you tried
But your love it warmed me wherever I went
It warmed me far and wide

You couldn't bear to watch my passing
You had to stand outside the door
Please don't despair, I could feel your love there
As strongly as ever before

It hurt you to watch me suffer
It hurt your heart to see me in pain
You loved me so much, and I know it was hard
But there is sunshine here past that rain

I wasn't alone in my passing
Even though you were miles away
I was never alone, as your love filled my heart
From the first moment of our very first day

I know how you so tried to mend me
And with your life you would protect me so
We couldn't see the bad things coming
But it's alright, I want you to know

I can't forgive you in any way
Not in rhyme, not in thought, or in song
Don't ask forgiveness, as there's nothing to forgive
You loved me, so how is that wrong

Oh why oh why are you weeping
Oh why has your face gone blank
I had a beautiful life beyond my wildest of dreams
And for that it's you that I thank

Smile with me and warm in the memories
See me here beyond your tears
The bond that we share is a wonderous thing
Not measured in hours, or in months or in years

With you, I had all that I wanted
I needed no fortunes of kings and queens
You gave me love, gave me warmth and happiness
I was rich beyond my wildest dreams

Please smile now and walk strong, I ask you
Gain your strength once again, please start
I wanted to tell you, from the moment we met
You are the absolute beat of my heart

Do you know that I very much love you
How I so absolutely do
If I had a thousand lifetimes, to be with one soul
I would spend every moment with you

I'm glad that you hear me near you
And see my shadow both night and day
Though it seems that I'm gone, as I'm no longer there
But I am never all that far away

When you see a rainbow near in the sky
It's a gift to your heart from mine
So many of us here, oh such love
Together we all make it shine

So sit now and smile at our moments
And know that our love knows no end
Cry tears of joy, I'm the love of your life
And you're mine, my very best friend

So if you feel empty on the top of the mountain
Or as you gaze to the far distant shores
Trust when you feel me, when to your heart I do whisper...
"We'll be together, forevermore."
Rob

My response to this post, at the other site, was as follows:
Why do I still do this? I pass on by soooo many posts, but every so often one gets my attention. Tonight it was this one. I don't come here as often as I once did. I don't post as often as I once did. But, at times like this, after reading a post like this, I am reminded how much I still ache and still mourn for my Lei-Lei. I, like so many others, try to carry on, and bravely face each day, month, and then subsequent year. As much as I would like to believe I'm doing o.k., I still fell to pieces when I read this. This is one of the truest, deepest, and most enlightening tributes I have ever read. Yes, even when I have tried to reach out to others and help ease their pain, this makes me remember I too still feel that not so very distant sting of pain. No, not as deeply as I once did. No, not as often as I once did. But, I still do. Thank you for posting this. Even though I read it through a haze of tears, I DID smile. Yes, I still love you Leibchen. Yes, I know you still love me too. Time can only keep us separated for so long.........................Marmy always comes back for you.......
-----------------------
Not goodbye.....just until
Marmy always comes back for you
Leibchen March 12,1994 - November 15,2006
Posted on 08