Candles

Death comes, 

and life goes, 

they say, 

It's just a part of life, 

these things happen

   it's just natural...

it's natural for people to die they say

. . .

But I ask you, 

How is it natural for a man

with a mind as quick as a fox to forget his name?

How is it natural for a man

who could play cards like an Olympic gymnast

running, jumping, tucking, and sticking it against all odds

seemingly defying the laws of gravity, 

come to not remember how to play the hand he's been given

and rely on others to place his bets ... 

But I suppose even the top tumblers run the risk of breaking their necks... 

especially when they go for something as outrageous as a triple back flip ... 

So I ask you, 

How is natural for a kid who was so courageous, so loving, so strong,

to have the life snuffed out of him as quick as you blow out a candle? 

. . .

Though the wick still smolders, and the smoke can still be smelled, 

eventually the scent of the candle wanes, 

the aroma disperses, 

and everyone 

forgets... 

that there was ever something burning in the first place... 

Like how he forgot 

that he women taking him out to dinner 

was his daughter

and not

       his wife... 

like how his kidney's forgot to filter his blood, 

and his lungs forgot to breathe

and his heart, 

to pump... 

So unlike the one beating within that unborn child's chest... 

his was old, 

and her's was just starting out...

She didn't know what is was like to taste fresh air,

or to hold her mother's hand,

or have her cuts and bruises kissed by her father ... she never had the chance

     to forget... or her heart

to grow old... 

Three lives starting fresh, 

so full of potential never had that chance... 

The chance to grow old, 

and in their old age to grow in ever increasing love for each other, that not even old age can stifle... 

the chance for each of them to hear the words

'I do...'

or to gaze upon their newborn daughter's face,

so young, and so full of life... 

and for her to gaze upon their wrinkled ones and take care of them as they did her.... 

And he, 

         he never had the chance

to reassure the two girls he loved so dearly that everything would be alright, 

to protect them 

as a lover

and as a father... 

he never had that chance because death was coming as quick as they were traveling, 

and I think they both were surprised when they met each other head on.... 

But one, 

one lived, 

he loved, 

learned, 

laughed, 

and lasted...

And then, 

Just like that, 

he passed... 

burning dimly one minute

and burnt out the next,

the wax reached the bottom...

but his candle burned bright

and slowly melted over the years

like his mind, 

it slowly

faded....

Until he forgot.... 

The world lost four beautiful people 

and we, 

we won't forget 

how brightly they burned

and how their aroma filled the room 

with a scent unique to them 

leaving you 

wiser, or loved, or encouraged

or 

however it is they affected you... 

but one thing is certain, 

They will not be 

forgotten.

Author's Note

My grandpa died yesterday. He had dementia, and it was a blessing for him to pass. My cousin, his girlfriend, and unborn daughter were killed in a tragic car accident last Saturday. We're still in shock.

My grandpa was extremely smart, and loved cards. One of the hardest things about his dementia, from what I'm told, was seeing him lose his ability to play cards. And my cousin was an amazing gymnast. He represented the USA in Russia for tumbling a few years ago and took 4th in the world. He broke his neck 6 months later attempting a triple back flip. His coach was training him, and he was almost ready from what I can remember, but something happened with the spotting, and he landed in his neck. But that didn't kill him. See, he had tenacity. He'd look a challenge square in the face, smile, wrestle it to the ground, and then pick it back up and take it out to lunch. I didn't know him that well, but the time I did spend with him I enjoyed. and it sucks that I'll never be able to get to know him better, or know his future wife, or his daughter at all... He would have made an amazing husband and father. Love you Cody.

Reviews

[alifeacoustic]

Beautifully written tribute, which captures the lives lived, as well as the incomprehension's of the how's and why's. no matter how much thought we put into it, the senselessness of it all is the prevailing result.
Beautifully structured, softly spoken in my mind as I read. Superbly done.

[Trevor Bergshoeff]

I apologize for taking so long to respond - I've had a lot going on recently, and the email notification managed to slip past me! I try to make an effort to respond to anyone who comments on my writing, as it means a lot to me :)

That said, thank you for your kind comment :) and you're right - after it happens, all you can think is 'how? why? life is all pointless because we all just end up dead anyway!' :P. It's sad when a life is cut short, but it can be a blessing for those who are suffering - it just sucks when they leave family behind :P

thank you, and again sorry for the delayed response!

[alifeacoustic]

You are very welcome. And no worries, perfectly understandable.