I wrote this poem in 1999 to an Australian friend who also didn’t want to stay in contact with me. I tried to reason and nurture him in his state of pain, but he wanted nothing of it. So I just had to let things be and let go.
The Hands of Time
If I could turn back
The clocks…
I would.
If I could stop time
In its movement…
I would change
The events of that day!
If I could take away
Your pain…
I would wipe
Your tears away
I can only
Love you,
Console you and
Comfort you
By wrapping you
In my blanket of
Tender loving care!
I can kiss away your sorrow
And be there
For you…
I can lend you my strength,
My support,
My caring nature and loving ways…
But oh, how I hurt for you,
How my heart goes out to you…
I tried to talk to you,
I tried to reason with you,
By sharing
My own trials,
And my own tribulations…
I tried to intervene to prevent you
From making them yourself,
But you said
With conviction,
“Your mate
Would see you through”…
Now, look!
My shining star,
Once a happy,
Joyous soul.
Now sad,
With a cloud of
Unknown hanging
Over his sweet spirit.
You can order my poetry collection, including this poem, here: Reflections of My Heart.
Original text ©2025 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. Image by Chris Downer via Wikimedia Commons.
Such words cradle pain with so much grace. I feel the love, the ache the helpless hope woven into every line. Sometimes hearts part despite the tenderness offered. But know this your care was not in vain. It left warmth where there was cold. And even if they couldn’t receive it then, your love was real and it mattered. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful piece of your heart