Tender Erasure

One Day I'll Join You

In fragile colours you appear to me
Suave pastel strokes that are so slowly
but tenderly washed away from my memory

In gentle lullabies you caress my ears
Warm mumbling in your language
I never was able to master

I want your arms to hold me one more time
Hear your soft smiling whispers
of comfort while you sing for me

Here are the lines we once drew in the sand
There the road of pebbles we created
Our childrens voices brutely silenced

At night I look out at the yawning sun
As she draws blood orange hues
And know one day I'll join you

Time deletes you second by word by line
But it can never erase you from my heart
For you are etched in the very core of me

***

February 24
Copyright © Darren White

***

Revision:

Tender Erasure - revision

In fragile colours you appear to me
...in tender pastel strokes
......bit by bit washed from memory

Gentle lullabies still caress my ears
...warm mumbling in your language
......I never was able to master

To feel you folded around me
...hear those soft whispers
......of comfort, one more song

Here are the lines we sketched in the sand
...there the pebbled road we shaped 
......before our childrens voices were brutely silenced

At night I look out at the yawning sun
...as she draws blood and drowns
......and know one day I'll join you

Time deletes you, second by word by line
...but it can never erase
......you, my essence, engraved in my very core.

***

Tender Erasure - revision 2

In fragile colours you appear to me
...muted strokes
......bit by bit washed from memory

Gentle lullabies caress,
...murmur in your language
......I never was able to master

To feel you folded around me
...hear whispers of comfort,
......one more song

Here are the lines we sketched in the sand
...there the pebbled road we shaped 
......before our childrens voices were brutely silenced

At night I look out at the yawning sun
...as she draws blood and drowns
......and know one day I'll join you
Time deletes you, second by word by line
...but it can never erase you,
......my essence, engraved in me
***
February 24, 2017
Copyright © Darren White