Black Granite

by Marla Courtney Wood
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999

Chloe Taylor Wood (9/22/98-12/26/98)
Cameron James Wood (9/22/98-11/26/98)

Today I saw my future carved into stone.
The final end of a brief and wonderful time.
Memories are the only thing left.
Besides a slab of black granite
Carved with the dates of the best and the worst days of our lives.
A reminder that you were here.
A reminder that you are never coming back.

I wish I could give you more than a stone.
I want to give you presents and kisses and hugs.
Instead I will give you a stone with your names on it.
And I will decorate your bed for your first holidays.
Caskets instead of cribs.
A stone instead of presents.
The ground is now your home.

I would give you a million Easter eggs if you come back.
I would let you eat all the Halloween candy in the world if you only come back.
I would let you have as many pieces of pumpkin pie as you want if you come back.
I would give you a thousand roses if you come back to smell them.
Santa would bring you a roomful of presents if you just come back right now.
If you come back......
I would hold you and kiss you both forever.
But, you're not coming back are you?
So all I can give you is this block of stone.
No Easter eggs or Halloween candy.
No pumpkin pie or roses.
Santa will not leave any presents under the tree for you.
Just a wreath over your bed next to a block of stone.