The Empty Chair

Bombarded by thoughts, as I sit here and stare,
All that I see is that one empty chair,
The chair you would sit on, talking away,
The chair you vacated, on that, frightful day.

Life seems impossible without you, my son,
Frustration and anguish, replacing, laughter and fun,
Still I look out for you, but you are not there,
And all that I see, is that one empty chair.

I think of the good times and some of the bad,
I think of the short time, you and I had,
I wish I could change things, and then with despair,
I realise forever, there is one empty chair.

I'm told I have memories, yet, try as I might,
no-one is seeing how daily I fight,
My heart not just broken, but beyond any repair,
Each day a reminder, there is one empty chair.

Losing a child is the worst kind of pain,
It comes to engulf you again and again,
You are thankful to family, who love you and care,
But there is always one missing, and one empty chair.

It is hard to explain how the struggle takes hold,
Sometimes you're coping and then you implode,
Why has this happened, it just is not fair,
The rest of my life I'll have one empty chair.

By Lyn Mcphee 
(A MOTHER BEREAVED BY SUICIDE)