I knew that early July would be a struggle for me and my family as July 3rd was the first anniversary of my son Sam’s death. This was partly why I was not in a good writing space. I decided I needed to unblock that space and wrote this:
The Unwanted Anniversary
The day approaches
A reminder of our loss
The void that now exists
Where once life flourished.
Your face visible everywhere
So many superficially like you
But none who can you replace
None to soothe our aching hearts.
The platitudes abound for us
‘Forever in our hearts he’ll be’
But so many hearts rent forever
Holes that can never be filled.
For what he brought us
We must be thankful
Rejoicing in his uniqueness
That smile never to be seen again.
But the pain goes on and on
And, at times, is so hard to bear
Regrets so thick on the ground
As we trudge through them.
My tears well so easily
Memories crowd my mind
From baby to man, husband and father
I hold you firmly in my heart.
Brian Matthews, 1-7-23
Brian’s Reflections 