Life Leaves Its Mark Upon the Heart

Why does the heart so yearn and cry
for those we leave behind?
Why does it break, when we say, "'Bye"?
Such moves are so unkind.

The change of jobs, the draft to serve,
the ending of the play,
Some friendship breaks we don't deserve,
transitions of today.

The loss of Dad to Heav'nly Home,
the cleaning of the room,
Could make Emotion's lengthy tome
or Feeling's little tomb.

It's not that we fore'er enjoy
all traits of ev'ryone,
But daily talk, that doth annoy,
prefer we this to none.

The actor's rigors can be tough,
intense when time for show,
Yet, when it's finished, true enough
are tears as we do go!

The Dad, who often rode my nerves,
for we were much the same
Is now the one my laud deserves,
He prayed for me by name.

My ev'ry job has been a weight
to some degree as not,
How true the mem'ry is more great
than burdens I forgot!

So, what do loss and gain both share
as live we our full Day?
The souls we know for whom we care,
whose place we can't repay.

Line Count: 32

by Jay O'Toole
on November 23, 2016