April 27, 2008

Remembrance Poems

(For me, this story started back in 1999, when Marcia asked me to write a poem to commemorate the first year anniversary of Michael's tragic death. That moving story can be found in a poem called Footprints. Nine years later, Marcia asked me once again to express her feelings….)

What is your name : MARCIA GUTIERREZ

Who do you want the poem written for: MY BROTHER MICHAEL D PINEDA

Why do you want the poem written: I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLISH THE POEM IN OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER AS A REMEMBRANCE TO MY BROTHER ON THE 10TH YEAR OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH (APRIL 7, 2008); WHICH ALSO HAPPENS TO BE MY BROTHER MARK'S BIRTHDAY.

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): HAPPY THAT WE HAD MICHAEL IN OUR LIVES FOR 35 YEARS; BUT SAD TOO BECAUSE OUR TIME TOGETHER WAS TO SHORT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIS DAUGHTER CAITLIN.

Please choose which package you would prefer : Deluxe

Would you like a copy of the handwritten drafts : No

What are the key messages you would like to send: HOW MUCH HE IS MISSED; HOW PROUD HE MUST BE LOOKING DOWN AT HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER; CAITLIN IS INVOLVED IN VOLLEYBALL AND THEATER AT SCHOOL. WHAT A GREAT DAD HE WAS WHILE HE WAS HERE ON EARTH AND HOW MUCH WE ALL MISS HIM.

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: MICHAEL WOULD CALL MY MOM ON HIS DAYS OFF FROM WORK AND INVITE HER TO LUNCH AND IT WOULD ALWAYS BE AT MCDONALD'S SINCE THAT WAS CAITLIN'S FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PAY HE WOULD SAY MOM, "I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY WITH ME YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY." SATURDAYS WERE ALWAYS HIS AND CAITLIN'S DAY FOR FATHER/DAUGHTER BONDING TO DO WHATEVER SHE WANTED TO DO.

Do you have any other comments or thoughts : HE LOVED TO WALK THEIR DOG IN THE EVENINGS AND CAITLIN WOULD RIDE HER BICYCLE AND THEY WOULD GENERALLY END UP GOING TO GET ICE CREAM; HE LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH HIS DAUGHTER CAITLIN. MICHAEL AND CAITLIN WOULD RIDE THEIR BICYCLES ON THE SHUNGA TRAIL. I HOPE THOSE ARE MEMORIES SHE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER BECAUSE I KNOW AS SHE GETS OLDER MEMORIES OF HER DAD WILL FADE. WHEN MICHAEL DIED HIS BEST FRIEND SAID, "I TRUSTED MICHAEL WITH MY LIFE I DID NOT KNOW I COULD NOT TRUST HIM WITH HIS OWN." SUCH A PROFOUND STATEMENT!

Footprints Still

Michael, We can't believe it's been ten years, yes,
ten years since you chose your way to die,
and now the anguish is as tough as ever,
we’ll explain that, or at least we will try.

You see, there is not a day that goes by,
you're always with us, right here, in our soul,
but your leaving certainly left a gap,
more than a gap, a large gaping hole.

April Seventh, Nineteen Ninety Eight,
a date that's forever etched in our minds,
the day when you chose to end your anguish,
but justify it? The words are hard to find….

We know you suffered in painful silence,
and yes, there must have been sad, private tears,
but we are sad too, our time was cut so short,
even though we did share your thirty five years.

Boy! It was really tough on everyone,
but Caitlin, well, she struggled to stand tall,
but time is such a fine and careful healer,
and now she excels with a volleyball.

She's also quite the actress, don't you know?
Of course you do, you approve from up above,
but she knows you were a great Dad, short lived,
but even so, you were very generous with your love.

Mind you, Mom got to pay for McDonalds,
some invite, as she always got to pay,
but we know you loved your time with Caitlin,
father, daughter, every Saturday.

We hope she gets to keep some memories,
because, like footprints, after time, they fade,
but those Saturdays were very special,
a time when you laughed, rode and played.

Your best friend said he trusted you with his life,
his heartfelt words drew solemn applause,
and there were tears in his eyes when he spoke:
Trust? Life? He could not trust you with yours.

But it's now been ten years and counting,
and the scars are still there, and sometimes we still even weep,
just know that the time we shared was precious, yes,
Michael, your memory, we shall safely keep.

And we just wanted to say farewell for a while,
because life goes on, here on planet Earth,
just know, that a decade later, you're still missed, yes,
we did appreciate your true and honest worth.

As we know, life is not forever,
yes, the time, it only goes one way,
and everyone will leave this earth,
everybody has that final day.

And all that is ever left,
are the memories to hand,
to treasure against the tides of time,
like footprints, ten years on, still, in the sand.