An hour with you
Author: Ruth Rodger
Ruth Roger is a Zimbabwean poet who lost her son, James, in 2010. The following poem expresses her feelings of grief and her love for him.
The time would be too short.
My questions all are overdue,
And the answers have come to nought.
I’d want to hug you tighter than tight,
My heart would be fit to burst.
I’d stare at you with all my might,
Whatever would I say to you first?
I think I’d start to cry,
The breath would stop in my chest,
Knowing that I must try
To make this hour the best.
I’d touch your face with a finger,
I’d kiss you on the cheek,
Smoothing your eyebrows, I’d linger
And then, I think I’d speak.
I would take your hand in mine,
And tell you that I’m Okay,
That my new normal is sort of fine,
And I’m making it through each day.
I’d tell you how greatly I miss you,
And beg for you to stay,
I’d say how deeply I love you,
And could you find a way –
To talk to me from the other side,
To ease my broken heart,
And make it like you never died,
And we’re not so far apart.
When the time would come, and you had to go,
I’d cry out: James! Don’t leave!
And tears from my eyes would start to flow,
And I’d bow my head to grieve.