Well Done
I realize I haven’t shared this poem since I wrote it. Loss can be so hard, and grief is something that I feel doesn’t go away. We learn to accept it and grow with the grief. We never stop loving or missing the person we lost who meant so much to us. To have a lasting impact in any way is a blessing, but there is none like that of a parent. I hope this poem resonates with you, and if it does, share it with someone else who can relate.
Dedicated to Leon Lovett, the best stepdad. To me, he was just Dad. I’m blessed to have two!
Leon Lovett-7/31/1951-1/7/2021
By: Naima Hammonds
Well Done
Breath left my lungs
Heart dropped
To the pit of my stomach
Knots formed in throat
Pushed in HIT
Feelings best described
By the following of your death
Fallen knees pressed in
Cold floors hollering
With the last breath that seemed
To escape a jarred mouth while
Tears filled the room
Enough tears to blend with the
Layering of the ocean
There was no explaining this
Emotion
Traveled the walls
Of a confined sterile hospital room
We could not, were not
Silent
Pain
Exhaustion
Sadness
Anger
Infiltration
Of an uncensored WHY
Utterance of every colorful word
That mixed with the disdain for acceptance
Numb
My eyes plastered
To the ceiling
As tears strolled
Along my cheeks
I wanted to be done with God
Wanted to reject everything
That was my religion
To a falling star that was me
I was his star and he was my living angel
How do I go on?
Felt like my light
Dimmed with his passing
Cause’
His hugs
His smile
His love
Added to my light to shine
Shine bright
Nothing like
The dull flicker
I have become
Calling for you
To hold my hand
And walk me down
Troubling streets
Calling for you to
Remind me that I am beautiful
And one bad motherfucker
Keeping me in the forefront
And greeted by others
Cause I was your daughter
YOU
Prided yourself in claiming
Me just as I claimed you
And Blood was never a factor
Who needs DNA when God is
The ultimate decider
No matter how I got here
Remembering this
Soothed me
Remembering this
Comforted my knowings
Feeling, as that little girl
Who first laid eyes on you
At the tender age of nine
I knew your soul
You
Never left me on cold streets
You
Never left me at the mercy of others
You
Showed love in the grandiose kind of a way
You
Loved my mother and made me love you more
You
Showed me that real men don’t leave
You
Had my heart and I had you wrapped right around my finger
You
My confidant my leader
You
My true dad and made me a believer
I was not your only child
But one of a few and you
Made us all feel as treasured
And true
Your legacy lives on in many ways
Thankful that I can say
He was my dad. The man who raised
Me and saw my star and that
Memory my light will never dim
When we live we should live to the fullest
So one can always say...Well done
We all carry stories within us, especially those connected to the people who have touched our lives deeply. Losing someone leaves an indelible mark, and often, sharing memories can be a powerful way to honor their legacy and keep their spirit alive.
Have you experienced a significant loss in your life? What's a lasting memory or something that truly sticks with you about the person you've lost?
Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories in the comments below. Let's create a space where we can remember and celebrate the lasting impact of those who are no longer with us.
