You always gave to others
to show them the way
To light the path ahead to
make it a better day
 
To guide them on their journey
towards the light
To offer them the kindness I
know you felt was right
 
Because day to day struggles
weigh upon our heart
And if we feel all alone, in
time we only see dark
 
You were my best friend and
it's my highest compliment
You showed your concern for
others and how my day went
 
What you and I shared together
will remain treasured memories
I truly feel great sadness that you
passed away suddenly
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

 

 

I pulled into the drive way
walking slowly to the door
Tears rolled down my cheeks
I looked around once more
                                                                                                           
I just couldn't believe it, that
you went home to God today
As bible words were spoken
I was at a loss to say
 
To say to you then, or now
how heavy my heart aches
You were taken away from
me my friend, lover, mate
 
I look around this room and
I see a part of you
Your favorite chair, over there
our wedding photo too
 
I fall to my knees as my tears
sting my eyes as I stare
I stare at my trembling hands
for I can't hide anymore
 
Memories of you surround me
as I close our bedroom door
It is so late, and I'm so tired I
can't cry anymore
 
Yet my tears do fall upon your
pillow, I can smell you here
God, why did you take them
from me, I loved them?
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

In all my life my darling
my regrets are few
But I do have one I admit
when we're no longer two
 
The time will come one day
when I will have died
I wish it wouldn't happen
for I've seen you cry
                                                                                                          
Be it one day or 40 years
I offer you happiness
For you taught me to live
and from just one kiss
 
You shared warmth, love
whispering softly to me
That everything is possible
if two want it to be
 
When I pass away be strong
know that in my heart
I will be waiting in heaven for
you while we are apart
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

"I was just thinking about momma
she's so far away from heaven
But I can hear her crying, and I
wish I was there to tell her
 
To tell her that I miss her too
and my pooh bear most
I miss her hugs and reading
me stories at bedtime"
 
The angel picked me up and held
me close, wiping my tears
She brushed back my hair and
whispered, "I know you do"
 
I asked the angel if I could go
see momma, but she said "no"
And as I began to cry, her tears
fell upon me, as we hugged
 
She looked so sad as she rocked
me back and forth in her arms
She said I must be patient because
soon, momma would come to me
                                                                                                           
"I wish you could have seen my eyes
momma, when the angel told me that
Because they were filled with a joy
and I'll be waiting by the gate
 
© 2004 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

When it is my time to die
a time for me to rest
I don't know if I'll be awake
when the trumpet sounds
 
Or if I will be one of the lucky
few, who are asleep
But of this, one thing I do
know which is true
 
I do not fear death, nor do I
welcome the coldness
I know my days are numbered
since the time of birth
 
I cannot change my destiny
but I can make my mark
And with each poem I write
I hope an impression's made
 
That my name, my words be a
whisper on another's lips
Recalling something I wrote
said, or perhaps did
 
I'll take my place in the veteran's
cemetery as taps are played
A flag draped coffin will be my
final good-bye to my friends
 
Perhaps someone will choose one
poem from the many I wrote
To read to those who remembered
this soft spoken man
                                                                                                                      
And if just one poem I've written
changes someone's life
Then I truly made a difference
which is what I set out to do
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

How could I ever be prepared momma
for the day you passed away?
Everything you stood for and shared
is imbedded in me in some way
 
I have cherished the memories that have
lasted through the years
Since my earliest memories of being a
"Little one", you comforted me
 
My son misses you deeply, it's a sign
that he learned the meaning of love
Everything you and I could teach him
well, you'd be proud momma
 
I will guide him as best I can, I will also
sacrifice to see that he is happy
For I am just his momma, and I know
you did the same for me
 
How I wish you had stayed longer
for I somehow feel cheated
I guess I always believed you'd be
here to share your love
 
I know that you're looking down
at us from heaven, smiling
And I know that when we look to
heaven's stars, that we see you
 
© 2003 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

                                                                                                           
On Your Sixteenth Birthday

On your sixteenth birthday we
visited you, in tears
Because you nor we would have
believed that November day
 
Peer pressure would put you in
a car, loaded with teens
Speeding down the highway as
the radio music blared
 
We taught you well the dangers
of drinking and of drugs
It lessened our pain to know you
had done neither that night
 
But you were with the "in" crowd
anyway that night having fun
We don't know who was driving or
what your destination was
 
But the darkness and rain we are
sure played a role that night
By the time the curve in the road
was seen, it was too late
 
We could never be mad at you
Ginger, we will always love you
You were cheated out of every
success that awaited you
 
Your room is still the same, we
never threw away anything
For everything we see, reminds
us of who we loved so much!
 
© 2003 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

                                                                                                           
I Don’t Fear Death

I have never feared death
just the way I will go
For he has come to take
me, but I fought back
 
I fought and won to stay
a just little longer
I admit that at times I've
felt too tired to go on
 
But if I gave up and said
take me, I can't go on
God would shake his head
no, and I knew he was right
 
Yes you and I must go on
to our final destination
To discover what is waiting
up ahead, around the corner
 
It is our destiny to die that
day, we will have no choice
It will happen so quickly I hope
that there will be no pain
 
Until then, you, as much as me
must fight with every breath
To cheat the grim reaper of a
life with so much left to do
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

Too young to know sadness
I cried for you
But for those short moments
perhaps you knew
                                                                                             
Something was wrong, but
you couldn't speak
Instead, you smiled a little
smile, looking up at me
 
Yes, God had his reasons for
taking a little life
Even when they are so tiny
but it doesn't make it right
 
The pain in me runs deep
the heartache remains
Yet each day is a new day
but for me, the same
 
Today I buried my little boy
as my tears now flow
He was such a part of my
life, and God, I miss him so
 
© 2002 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)

 

 

I was given a short time on earth
who knows how much longer?
I've traveled down the roads of
happiness, sadness and love
 
I have felt on top of the world
I have been to hell and back
I have saved lives�?where other's
were afraid they too would die
 
I have nearly died several times
but I am still here
There must be something I have
yet to do something not completed
 
I have struggled with emotional pain
and with injuries I've suffered
My eyes have seen the birth of two
children, the death of both parents
                                                                                                           
I do not fear death, and perhaps I
never will and I know why
I cannot change the date God calls
my name in the book of names
 
When it is my time, I hope though I
am sleeping so I feel no pain
If awake, I do not want to die alone
so I guess I do fear that
 
I simply try to help as many others
as I can sharing a smile each day
For I know thru the years what it is
like to feel sad and lonely
 
© 2003 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)