Dr. James R. Comer

I miss you so much, daddy.

THE LOSS OF A FATHER

Is the anchor pulled from the seabed
the steering wheel unhinged
the mast split by lightning
and the bow broken by storm.

The ship that you sailed
until now
feels unsafe
no longer weather-proof
and without direction
or brave heart
to speed its way.

Perhaps you did not even know
that he was your compass
that you gazed upon his lead
like a North-star in the night.

He gave you all of this
you see
without notice or congratulation
diligently
consistently
continuously guiding
always showing the way
in the way he knew how.

And whilst you are cast adrift
I know this to be true
you will anchor yourself once more my friend
when you realise
that his voice still speaks
still guides
still brings brave heart your way
in the roughest of storms .

And the answers you seek
he already planted deep
within your heart
for he knew one day

you would need to sail alone.

So he buried little pieces of himself
within your heart
your mind
your spirit
and your soul

little breadcrumbs of love
to show the way

forevermore.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘LOSS’:
UK: https://amzn.eu/d/5ssxFnd
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1785304429?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_P6ESYR5NSTFQVADH624Y&language=en-US

ART BY MELANI PYKE

I love you, daddy. ♥️

When I am gone, do not fear my memory.

Do not be afraid to speak my name or look through old photographs.

Do not be scared to play old videos so that you might hear my voice and see me laughing.

Do not be wary of visiting my favourite places or eating my favourite foods or singing along to my favourite songs.

I know it will hurt. Those memories will remind you that I am gone.

They will stab at you like a knife in an open, gaping wound. Raw, excruciating pain.

But after a while the knife will become less sharp, the wound will become less open and the pain will become less raw.

And those memories will remind you that I was here.

That I lived.

Do not reduce my life to my death.

Speak my name, hear my voice, sing my favourite songs and visit my favourite places.

Because that’s how I can stay alive a little.

Right here with you 🧡

******

Becky Hemsley 2022
Gorgeous artwork by Amanda Cass

You must have known, daddy.

Just so you know
after you die
I will not wonder
why you didn’t do
your dishes or
how long it’s been
since you
cleaned your
oven or microwave or
mopped your floors
or why there were
dust bunnies under
the bed and
behind the door

After you’re gone
I will not wonder
how you could
have allowed the
piles of old mail to
accumulate or
why you saved so
many bits and pieces
of this and that or
why you weren’t
more goal-oriented and
well-organized or
why your refrigerator
contained so many
expired condiments

When you are
absent from all your
familiar places
I vow to avoid wondering
why you didn’t
eat less and
exercise more or
why you waited so
long to stop smoking
or drinking or
whatever else was
simultaneously
soothing and
deadly or
why you took
whatever risk may
seem to have hastened
your exit or why
you left so much unsaid
unfinished or
unresolved

I will only wonder
if you knew how much
you mattered to me
just as you are
as you were when we
met in our temporary
human disguises and
laughed in the
dressing room of the
world at how funkily
our skin suits fit
at times

I will wonder and
hope you knew
you were beloved

I will wonder when
we last hugged
and whether you
felt how our
heartbeats
converged
and our bellies
bumped like boats
and then we
both sighed

- Marva Lee Weigelt

Art: Michelle Lake Fine Art

Posted by ~Beautiful Ramblings

I miss you, daddy.

We miss you, daddy.

THE LOSS OF A FATHER

Is the anchor pulled from the seabed
the steering wheel unhinged
the mast split by lightning
and the bow broken by storm.

The ship that you sailed
until now
feels unsafe
no longer weather-proof
and without direction
or brave heart
to speed its way.

Perhaps you did not even know
that he was your compass
that you gazed upon his lead
like a North-star in the night.

He gave you all of this
you see
without notice or congratulation
diligently
consistently
continuously guiding
always showing the way
in the way he knew how.

And whilst you are cast adrift
I know this to be true
you will anchor yourself once more my friend
when you realise
that his voice still speaks
still guides
still brings brave heart your way
in the roughest of storms .

And the answers you seek
he already planted deep
within your heart
for he knew one day

you would need to sail alone.

So he buried little pieces of himself
within your heart
your mind
your spirit
and your soul

little breadcrumbs of love
to show the way

forevermore.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘LOSS’: https://amzn.eu/d/5ssxFnd

ART BY MELANI PYKE

I miss you so much, daddy. I still speak to you when I need advice. Thank you for your never ending guidance. I love you.

THE LOSS OF A FATHER

Is the anchor pulled from the seabed
the steering wheel unhinged
the mast split by lightning
and the bow broken by storm.

The ship that you sailed
until now
feels unsafe
no longer weather-proof
and without direction
or brave heart
to speed its way.

Perhaps you did not even know
that he was your compass
that you gazed upon his lead
like a North-star in the night.

He gave you all of this
you see
without notice or congratulation
diligently
consistently
continuously guiding
always showing the way
in the way he knew how.

And whilst you are cast adrift
I know this to be true
you will anchor yourself once more my friend
when you realise
that his voice still speaks
still guides
still brings brave heart your way
in the roughest of storms .

And the answers you seek
he already planted deep
within your heart
for he knew one day

you would need to sail alone.

So he buried little pieces of himself
within your heart
your mind
your spirit
and your soul

little breadcrumbs of love
to show the way

forevermore.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘LOSS’: https://amzn.eu/d/5ssxFnd

ART BY MELANI PYKE

Always looking for the signs, daddy. I love you.

FEATHERS

I sent you a little white feather
I placed it right there in your way
I wrapped it in love with a message
to let you know you’ll be okay

I drew you a colourful rainbow
It followed your car for a while
I made a spectacular rainbow
I hoped it would show me your smile

I flew down a beautiful robin
It landed right there on your ledge
I prayed he would give you the strength
to push yourself back from the edge

I try every day to remind you
that I never did go away
the feathers, the rainbows, the robins
are my way of trying to stay.

🪶🌈 🕊
Donna Ashworth
From ‘LOSS’; poems to better weather the many waves of grief
https://amzn.eu/d/fwIp4VX

This beautiful illustration is by Demelsa Haughton Illustration, please do follow her amazing work.

Missing you so much, daddy ♥️

How do I live without you?
Oh my love I do not.

You are with me from the moment I open my eyes until they close.
And even after that,
on the plane of dreams where mortals and souls meet,
you are with me still.

“I have not yet learned to live without you,
and perhaps I never will,
the truth of the matter is,
you are always with me still.”

You walked such a blazing pathway, when your feet were on this earth, that your imprint lingers on and I place my own feet in your steps, one by one.

How do I live without you?
It’s really very simple.
I do not.

“I have yet to live without you
perhaps I never will,
perhaps the key to grief is,
you are always with me still.”

Donna Ashworth

Art by Amanda Cass

The link to the live stream of the remembrance ceremony of James Comer.
The ceremony will start on Saturday, Sep 10th at 10:30 am CST

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JAMES COMER It is safe to say that Dr. James Comer touched thousands of lives during his life and career. Through his efforts, he created a worldwide family that now mourn his…

Here is something I recall my dad always saying as I was growing up.
“Something worth doing is worth doing right the first time.”
Take pride in what you do.
Also, as far back as 4th and 5th grade, I recall that he would not tell me how to spell a word until I could show him that I had attempted to look it up in the dictionary. He proofread my papers, even through college, making corrections and suggestions, then eventually complimenting me on my improved writing skills.
I appreciate these things and hope I’ve instilled them in my own kids.

We miss you, daddy! So much.