Someone Else's Son...
By Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee
My Precious Son, Tommy... Born November 20, 1969... Died May 29, 2010
We walked toward the big box store
People were standing in a group to collect
Money to repair a church roof
My eyes were suddenly drawn to one person
Tommy! Oh, Skip, look!
That guy looks so much like... Tommy!
My eyes followed the guy as he talked,
Moved, smiled... my heart began to hurt
I couldn't take my eyes from him
So engrossed I was ... I ran into a barrier
In front of the store
The pain in my stomach wasn't anywhere as near
As the pain in my heart as I tried
To tear my eyes away from someone else's son
Sick to my very soul, I followed Skip inside
Skip! Did you see how much he looked like Tommy?
Did you see... he had glasses, his kind of haircut, too
Tommy, for a few moments I watched 'you' move
I watched you smile, talk
Today... in someone else's son
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..........
Author's Note:
Grief is a terrible thing... it strikes like a rattlesnake hidden in the grass. No matter how beautiful the day, how wonderful all is... it strikes with a vengeance... the pain can bring one to their knees.
It can't be predicted... no more than when lightening will strike something from the sky. You can't imagine how bad it hurts to lose your only child... how bad it feels, knowing you have nothing to look forward to in later life... no son, no grandchildren.
The only protection is being strong, determined... looking forward, not backwards. I do this every day, minute... I have to. It's like walking a tightrope... I always have to be balanced, so... I ... don't fall. Sometimes, I fall very hard when... I least expect it. I tell you because when it happens, I promised to.
Gloria Faye Brown Bates/aka Granny Gee
