Extinguished - Tina Manousakis

Intellect dazzled with brilliance.

Pondering principles of physics.

You explained.

Never laughed,

Nor belittled.

All extinguished now.

Faith confused

Warring with science,

Perplexing in its intensity.

I questioned:

Is there a God?

With patience you explained:

Bothering God was easier,

Than bothering family,

With your obsessive tendencies.

All extinguished now.

Love for humanity your hallmark,

You claimed life as beautiful,

God’s great design,

Lived to the fullest

A treasure, a gift

To be revered.

All extinguished now

What remains now is anger

For the six cast adrift

Children all, even the adults,

Did you not consider?

They need you

Now

Always

It was the wrong time

To leave.

 Eyes, once bright

Now darkened, vacant

Without sparkle, without life.

Your mirrors

Smiles, once quick,

Now labor.

Minds once brilliant,

Now founder.

Laughter and love,

All extinguished now.

I wonder

Will any follow you?

Seems likely for one.

But my hands are tied.

Like yours were

Still I watch, inwardly raging.

Waiting.

To see if I can catch them,

Before they fall,

So that

Another life can continue,

To Grow

To Contribute

To Thrive

Against your legacy:

Of Lies.

Of Pain.

Of Cowardice.

All extinguished now.