Two Poems

I recently wrote two poems and thought I would put them out for others to read. Let me know what you think. The first one is primarily about my father who is slowly dying from Alzheimer's. The second has to do more with my reconnection with God and how helpful that has been for me.

Dead Before Your Time

You died long ago,

though you still breath air,

a long lived life

does not always end fair.

Caged in confusion,

you are a child at best

hoping for some comfort

before being laid to rest.

Increasingly frail,

and riddled with guilt,

she visits you daily

and watches you wilt.

Ignoring her needs

in place of your own,

she leaves in tears

and drives home alone.

Memories once shared

are now locked in a vault,

"Who do you blame

when there is no one at fault?"

Try as you may

to come out of your shell,

the sea turtles swim

while you're locked in a cell.

Awakening

I see more clearly

now that I have been awakened

to all that is before me,

blinded for so long,

it's hard to fathom

how I negotiated my journey;

but you were with me

during my darkness,

patiently standing by,

knowing, some day,

love and peace of mind

would replace my angry cry.

Still, there must have been times

you could have left me

to wallow in my pain,

but you chose to wait me out,

knowing, some day,

I would seek shelter from the rain.

And there you were,

arms wide open,

and willing to wrap me in your loving embrace --

unconditional acceptance

of a long lost soul

in search of your grace;

and now that there is clarity,

I see in you

all that I am meant to be,

and I embrace others

with undying faith

the way you embrace me.