Tears of Life

TEARS OF LIFE

As a tear

Goes down my cheek

My heart

Doth faster beat

I find it

Hard to speak

Welling up

From deep within

My memories

Of others did begin

Those many souls

Before me doth spin

My example

For doing good

Are those who

Before me hath stood

Many a soul

Hath given their all

Having answered

Their call

Too many

To remember them all

When I find

Myself alone

Looking for

An elusive home

I find my peace

In the memories

That brings release

Of those dear souls

And their roles

In my life

These beings

Who bring meaning

Are both those here

And long gone by

That have influenced

My life

And will till I die

In my solitude

I reflect upon them

With reverent attitude

And joyful beatitude

I give of myself

Each and every day

To in some way

Those souls repay

The tear finally stops

Upon my hand it drops

They’re smiling at me

The ones that before me I see

And peace comes to my heart

I am ready, for another start

-Shiidon, February 2010

I am not sure where the inspiration for this poem came from but it "wanted" to come out. I was taking a break from grading and doing some web design when I was impelled to write. The phrases come out and are sometimes lost forever, sometimes I just have to stop everything and start writing. This was one of those times. I would suspect that this poem will have different meanings for each person that reads it as it does for me, the writer. The thoughts that went through my mind were those of the early believers of the Bahá'í Faith as well as others who more directly influenced me. Among those were those dedicated school teachers, friends, family, loved ones and a whole pantheon of others. Each person that comes to us brings something with them. When I rediscover a friends on Facebook, for example, I immediately start reflecting on the times I spent with that person, long term or fleeting. So, to all of you, I bow in gratitude.