A landscape of memory littered
with pieces of dreams
children that once lived
once laughed
oft times schemed
she sees a house abandoned now
ought times with love filled
each & every birth an
auspicious moment still
& each year
she knows she has been gifted
that any tears shed
were merely a bridge
between yesterdays
& tomorrows albeit
as other mothers cry oceans
of salt filled tears
for children that lived once
without fear in loving arms
with kisses, soft still
their auspicious moment shattered
a broken memory like
shards of glass
now buried descending deep
earth’s grief surpassed
whose sorrow cannot rebuild
houses in ashes smoldering
whose dreams
hold ghostly remnants
pale & fading
where a timeless epitaph remains
of young lives interrupted
photos tinged yellow
touched by death
a noxious poison
thinking of this she turns pages
a book of photographs old
& knows dreams
will still be her comfort
will still unfold
that some mother’s dreaming will
become a vile nightmare
an interloper in sun rays
unwanted slumber
empty days
© April 2017 Renee Espriu
I am a little late to post this on my site. It was first posted in the Bezine last month. You can read more of some wonderfully written poems and other posts at https://thebezine.com/project-type/the-bezine-april-2017-vol-3-issue-7. The photo below was taken from the Morgue File & Digitized by myself.
reneejustturtleflight.com 
poignant, beautiful, sorrowful!
LikeLike
Thank You. I am so very blessed to have so many children and although they are not all in good health they are here and living still. That so many mothers lost their children and are still losing them through wars and disease they can do nothing about is heartbreaking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blessings to you and your children Renee!
LikeLike
The many paradoxes of parenting!
LikeLike
I thought of the children in Syria when I wrote this. My heart goes out to them all. I am so fortunate to have children well beyond their own childhoods having children of their own.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Highs and the Lows of loving our Children.. Yet I guess I would never change a thing Renee.. Lovely poem my friend.. Happy May to you xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sue. I thought of these things on the heels of the tragedy in Syria. At times I feel inspired to write when I hear news such as this. Happy May to you as well. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wishing you a Happy May and peaceful weekend Renee xx
LikeLike
it is terrible – the things that happen in syria – when mothers lose their kids – husbands their wives – kids their fathers – war is a monster
LikeLike
Something so very real and yet so much unfathomable to us who do not live in such a situation. Humanity is anything but humane in so many ways. I hold out hope for them that things will change that they may see it and live better lives. Thank you for your comment Claudia.
LikeLike