The Clouds Stood Still

I can't remember all the details of the day that you were born.
I can't even recall the exact day that you started kindergarten.
But I can remember everything about that fateful day,
when you left me standing on the porch
and I watched you drive away.

Sweet scent of gardenia filled the air.
Hummingbirds sped about without a care.
Summer sun begged for all children to play,
but the clouds stood still that day.

Honeybees busily chased one another,
Flowers paraded spectacular color.
Never was there a more perfect display,
but the clouds stood still that day.

Soft sultry breezes lightly danced all around.
Rain hid that day, not a drop to be found.
Plenty of beauty to be painted in May,
but the clouds stood still that day.

~
I went to bed early on this beautiful night,
which was strange for me to do.
I don't know why I chose this time,
to not wait up for you.

Awakened by the telephone
at just about half past 10;
"Is your son at home?",
I answered, "no",
"Well there's been an accident."

I woke your sister from her peaceful sleep.
We raced to where you were;
expecting to see your boyish grin
as you sat upon the curb.

Instead, we saw the rescue lights,
as we parked along side the road.
We tried to run past everyone,
but then someone stopped us cold.

"How bad is it?", I asked the man--
"It's bad", was his reply.
I began screaming with all my might,
"Oh God,
Not my baby!
Why?"

The yellow car you bought that day was mangled in the tree.
We watched helpless from a distance,
as they tried to get it free.

Metal, glass, and blood was scattered all about the road.
All that I could do was scream,
"Oh, God!",
"No, God!",
"Not my baby!"
"God, No!"

We will suffer this hearbreak forever,
remembering how you went away.
When the world we knew was so alive,
but the clouds stood still that day.

Responses

2 comments so far.

1. Jacob Willard says:

   This is so beautiful and sad. The rhyme scheme is all good, untill you break it the 2nd stanza after the ~ . You should try to fix that, and the ones after that, then it will give an even better chill. I really love the 'but the clouds stood still that day'. That line all by itself makes this a really promising poem.

2. roxanne lamb says:

   simply heartbreaking...as a mother...I hope I never have to endure that kind of pain...=(