‘Oh, how I miss her…; and him…; and him; and her…’ <br />a pause; a sadness; a moist eye; a tear… <br />…and as you age, the list grows longer <br />until you wonder why you’re not <br />already there on it yourself… <br /> <br />Oh, but think again… you miss them so, just <br />because you have them in your mind, so clear… <br />they could almost be here now, right beside you… <br />but they aren’t…yet better… <br />they’re there within that greater you… <br /> <br />you respected them; admired; listened to their every word; <br />loved them; felt them forever a precious part of you… <br />so now, they live in you; your presence <br />is their presence: and <br /> <br />you opened wide the pearly gates for them; <br />you waved them through the judgment day; <br />welcomed them with choirs of angels; even <br />thrust a ready coin into the boatman’s hand <br />who took them to that dark and part forgetting land <br />from which, they may return more glorious… <br /> <br />you are a radiant heaven of their life; they live <br />eternal in your mind, your memory, your heart; <br />when people see you, greet you, they are meeting <br />more than that familiar you; they meet the presence of <br />a great company of those who’ve filled your life - <br />and now, you’re filled with them… <br /> <br />listen! hear them call to you, <br />not to imprison them in the past, <br />but live, now, here, with you; live again <br />in the radiance of the self you share… <br /> <br />call to mind this glorious company <br />not on the other side, but at your side… <br /> <br />why, if this were physical, you’d have burst by now… <br />instead – see how you shine!<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/their-presence-in-their-absence/
