The Grave No One Tended

The day was lovely as I strolled along, peering at stones on the way

And that’s when I saw it, that pitiful cross, that looked splintered and faded away

With flowers in hand to tend Father’s grave, I knew I must hurry along

But I couldn’t help but linger awhile, at that cross that just didn’t belong

The date on the front confirmed my suspicions, of what already I knew

A child lay beneath that horrible cross, and its faded color of blue

What selfish parents they must have been, to bury their child all alone

Without flowers or candles to light the night, and not even a simple headstone

I looked even closer at that awful cross that was nearly splintered away

And there on the back, I read the words that changed me forever that day

“This cross isn’t grand, but it was carved by my hands, so you’ll know son, how much I care

It’s the color of blue to remind me of you, and how painful it is I’m not there

That it’s you who is gone and it’s me living on, while your young life has come to an end

And I’m left alone, never again with a home, and a grave that’s too painful to tend”

Tears stung my eyes as I looked all around, at the monuments that ragged cross put to shame

And I shared with those parents their horrible loss that brought them such terrible pain

And all the tombstones, some even taller than me, suddenly seemed small in a way

Next to that little handmade cross, carved with such love and the flowers I planted that day