I don't recall how we met
As I was far too young.
I knew you not as you are now,
For you were the sun,
An always-present warmth and glow,
A light that's always there
To wipe the tears from my eyes,
To brush my matted hair.
And I would lie if I did not say our relationship was pure.
I am young, a cause of grief; of this I am quite sure.
Despite all, I'd be remiss to say there was no love—
A calmness, a careful word, a nudge, not a shove.
There were nights I recall needing you the most;
I'd crawl from bed and walk to you,
And you would hold me close.
Between the love of both of you to ease my sleeping strife,
I never felt so safe, and yet so cold, in all my life.
I too recall a time when I was trying to impress
A goofy boy named "Arthur," dressed up in his mother's best.
It was only Dad who laughed with me as Mother, you withdrew,
But when he joined in dressing up, you cried with laughter, too.
And there was the time we all found ourselves stuck in the rain,
And Mother had her gown nearly soaked, and Dad was much the same.
And though we all were miserable, Mother found us a spot of dry,
In which we all ate a pretend meal: jelly and sea pie.
And now you're gone, and I can't explain the loss that lingers here—
The size of a young boy's parents that he wishes could be near.
And there are nights where he needs you, and he still crawls out of bed
And walks towards your bedroom door before recalling that you're dead.
And I want someone to tell that boy to swallow all the hate,
That nothing he could have said would have changed his parents' fate.
And I want that someone to be you as I write this; but alas,
This pain will linger with me still,
And I pray this too shall pass.
NOTE: I believe that Arthur recited this poem to John in Part 20, titled "The King." I could be wrong, but I had to get his words down for all the internet to read! This is such a powerful poem! Arthur's words moved me so deeply and left me aching. 🖤
