From Mom, With Love

Dedicated to Michael

The Shepherdess

There stands a little shepherdess Adorning the center shelf Not surrounded by other clutter But kind of by herself.
A dainty lady dressed in pink Upon her head,a bonnet of lace With long, beautiful blond curls Just a hint of smile upon her face.
She only cost him a quarter at a lawn sale down the street. Given to a mommy from her son Her value no precious jewel can beat.
He presented her with a big grin, thrilled to have found such a thing. To adorn his Mommy's knick knack shelf, to watch the joy it would bring.
There stands a little shepherdess, a memory of what's been lost. A priceless treasure to be kept, from the treasure I miss most.

Joan Lawton - 1999

To My Son

You're free now my love, from earth's hurt and pain. Soaring above it all, never to be troubled again.
Your beautiful smile and carefree facade are seen by the angels and the ever-present God.
A spirit you've become, a midsummer's golden sunset. A bountiful harvest of memories. One's that we'll never forget.
Your life was too short.Taken from those you loved.To join the ranks of heaven,to watch over us from above.
Mike,you showed us how to laugh, you made our lives complete.But now the laughter's faded,until once again we meet.
Your memory will live on,a piece in all our minds.But yet we find it so very hardto put the pain and anger behind.
We love you and we miss you,this has been life's hardest test.Yet, you would want us to move on.Good-night sweet Michael,
now you're at rest.

Joan Lawton - 1999

Memories of Michael 4/15/80 – 8/3/98

The first eye contact
Between mother and son
From that moment forward
We became as if one.

A first baby chuckle
From deep down inside
First tooth, first word
First piggyback ride

First tottering steps
Towards Mommy you came
Laughing and smiling
And calling my name.

Riding your trike,
Skinning your knees
Saying, “Mommy, can I
Have a Band-Aid please?”

Dressed up so cute
For your first day of school.
Waiting for the bus with Mommy
Was then pretty cool.

Getting your first Cub Scout Badge
Scoring your first home run
Stopping that winning goal
Saying “We’re Number One!”

A new baby sister
You were so proud
No one could make her
Laugh quite so loud.

Your first limo ride
At the end of sixth grade
Memories in yearbooks
Of the friends you had made.

Then came the night
Of your very first date
Rushing and fussing
You couldn’t be late.

Girls, Girls Girls,
The phone always ringing
Music turned up loudly
But I could still hear you singing.

“Mom I want to buy Jessie a ring”
You said to me at Christmas time.
“I love her more than life itself,
And I want her to be mine.”

The look on your face
As you paid for the ring
The look on her face,
As you gave her the thing.

A final hug and a wave
And a “I love you too.”
I would have called you back
If only I knew.

The glare of lights
Through the front window
The looks on the trooper’s faces
So full of shock and sorrow.

The non-stop flow of friends
The grieving and the tears
Walking into that room
Couldn’t cope with my fears.

How could this happen?
Why was I here?
I couldn’t hug or touch you,
Though you were so near.

Why did you ride
with a boy who had been drinking?
Why did you do it?
What were you thinking?

Almost two years have passed,
and I still ask myself why.
Michael, dearest Michael,
why did you have to die?

Joan Lawton – 7/00

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