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.