The Cleansing Tide
The Cleansing Tide
The child in his arms, such a precious gift
Her sweet loving smile would make his heart lift
Born into a love that none could compare
Baby blue eyes framed with curly blonde hair
Conceived and born on love filled days
From the first time he held her he was blown away
His heart did a flip and his smile was so wide
His devotion to his daughter could not be denied
And he looks on down the the rocks below
Waves crashing over; a cold wind blows
His mind is adrift from a soul torn apart
A lump of cold dread where once was a heart
Her eyes never dulled, she always had a grin
Never a bad word did she have for him
A bond so strong and a love so entire
Her Daddy’s arms would hold her when tired
He’d always be there support her in all
He’d pick her up whenever she’d fall
To laugh and to sing and play in the park
But storm clouds were soon to make it dark
And the glistening rocks washed by tidal attack
The wind now rising and pushing him back
His mind is flying far out to sea
His soul crying out to be free; to be free
The debilitating fear as they stood by her bed
A mother and father with eyes cried red
The knowledge; a curse as they counted the days
Not knowing what to do or what they could say
The clock on the wall slowly ticking away
The moments of life till the end of her days
Holding each other in trembling embrace
Neither one daring to turn from her face
And the rocks are beckoning, inviting release
A way out of torment, a welcoming peace
Standing aloft on a cold cliff top ledge
Moving ever closer to release at the edge
Her chilling cries in the dead of the night
The rush to her side as she stared out in fright
He cradled his child, reassuring till when
She would settle back off; restless slumber again
Just standing there, knowing that she must soon fade
Wondering now at decisions they’d made
Had they done all they could; had they tried all there was
Would their hurt be any less if they knew the cause
And the rocks are washed by a wind whipped tide
The pain of his loss was now too much to hide
Seagulls were crying high overhead
Mocking derision echoing round in his head
And when the battle was lost on that cold winters eve
Though they knew it was coming they just couldn’t believe
To hold her small hand for the very last time
To kiss her cold cheek and wonder at her crime
To see her frail form wrapped inside a cold shroud
The wailing and crying; beseeching so loud
He felt something close; something collapse deep inside
All he could think of was to run and hide
And the image of the rocks on the raging sea bed
Was swimming and pulsing and rushing in his head
The wind in his ears, tearing wild at his clothes
The smell of the sea assailing his nose
A tiny voice made him glance to his right
Eyes blinking wide with shock at the sight
There in the mist as it swirled at her feet
His daughter, with hand held out to greet
Her gentle smile he remembers with pride
As she beckons him to be by her side
His tear-filled eyes give a single blink
The vision is gone; he is alone on the brink
And the rocks down below, ‘neath the crashing waves
Watching the memory of many dark graves
As he offered his body to the wind and the rain
Relinquishing life and sorrow and pain.