The academic year starts again
But your not at the school gates
Each child dressed in their uniforms
But you’ll never know your classmates
Tears are shed by some as they part
Leaving their parent by the door
The teacher settles them one by one
Looking back to welcome in one more
Bags and coats are hung on pegs
But your name and space aren’t there
Shirts tucked in and shiny shoes
More clothes you’ll never wear
They sit in their spot and look around
Waiting for their names to be read aloud
What I would give for your name to be
Another in the crowd
The school day starts, friendships forge
Games played and lessons taught
Big emotions felt as the day goes on
These hours can be quite fraught
At pick up time you are not there
To run and jump into my arms
All day today my brain rings out
Each absence sounding like alarms
I should have walked you into school
Comforted you as we parted
But you were robbed of all of this
Before your life really started
All the milestones that you miss
Leave ripples in the water of my soul
Showing me what could have been
Had your life been whole
