All of your poetry is beautiful.

May I add 2?

The "Wake"

I sit alone at the wake
It comes and goes
The ache
I wear black on the inside
It appears as if I have never cried
There are no other mourners at the gathering
No eulogies or songs to sing
The casket contains and is closed
To symbolize needs unmet
There are no flowers
The death of hope
Of saddest hours
This is a wake of solitude
A mourner's fugue
No pictures to surround the dead
Remembering....this is what she said
There are picture frames
Devoid of photos that should be there
Of a life where nothing was ever shared
Because the "murderer" (abuser) never cared
The lights are low
The funeral director quietly asks, "Are you ready to go?"
To take the journey..the burden...to lie it down
Uon your heart's hardened ground
All without one sound
The silent, dark procession of the soul
The journey to be whole
From grief...relief
You must say goodbye, I know
You didn't want to die
Unable to cry
Sign the guestbook
Take one last look
The funeral was over years ago
The tears, the pain and anguish...
Something you too well do know
The silent vigil you still keep
While wandering in your sleep
I must sit a little longer
And when I am ready
I will go
There is no one to stand with me at the grave
There was nothing
Which could be saved
Isn't it ironic that they call it
A wake
(awake)

On a Happier Note:

The Nightbird's Song

The nightbird
Not often heard
Sings her sweetest song
Just before the glorious dawn
That song resonates
While the Universe anticipates
And lingers in the air
It says I care
Your pain I will share
As her last sweet notes drift away
There dawns the day
Her concert done
She greets the sun
And flies away
Announces that the day has just begun
She returns at night in joyful flight
To her concert hall
Little being so delicate and small
At the precise moment
Her timing instictive
Exquisite
The darkened forest listens quietly
Waiting to hear it
What will she sing
The music to escort the dawn
To gently bring
All nature holds its breath
Waits to resonate with her
The ocean's roar
A kitten's purr
Stars close their eyes and wink their last
Tonight is past
The moon resigns and folds her silvery wings
Takes the mysterious journey to the other side of the world
The symphony of the soul
Is the one
Which only

The heart can see

Love and hugs to all, Alice

(I've written "tons" more, which aren't on my website, and plan to publish them, if they don't win any of the contests I have entered; some are in my memoir)

t