What price, a better life?
One hundred and nineteen sleeps.
Too many hours to mention; too many minutes to count.
One hundred and nineteen nights alone.
A cold empty bed and sad, empty arms.
One hundred and nineteen days to fill.
In snow, wind, sun and rain.
Some that flew, others that crawled in heartbreaking silence.
One hundred and nineteen struggles, at least.
Arguments, upset, food refusals.
Temperatures and tummy aches.
One hundred and nineteen bedtime routines.
Bathtime toys and bedtime noise.
Books and cuddles and goodnight kisses.
One hundred and nineteen lonely evenings.
Sleeping children and meals for one.
No conversation nor caress.
One hundred and nineteen milestones missed.
More or less.
Inches grown and skills mastered.
One hundred and nineteen ways to miss you.
In beating heart, in each breath taken.
Seeing you in everything but hearing you never.
What price, a better life?
One hundred and nineteen sleeps.
Oh Jen, this is heartbreaking and so very beautiful. A fabulous poem which looks like it was so difficult to write. Thank you so much for linking to Prose for Thought xx
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