Belinda Bennett-Hartmann wrote "Blood of my Blood" as an open letter. It was published in the "Bayou Banner" on Sunday, January 22, 1995. Originally it was titled "An open letter to my Son" but the title was changed by a reporter. The author also liked that title and decided to keep it. - poetheart 12/12/00
Blood of my blood
Flesh of my flesh
So close, yet so far
I wish I could stop an instant in time
and pull you back from yesterday into today.
I feel you in your spirit form,
but ache for the touch of your reality.
I cannot watch a magic trick without
a wretching pain where my heart should be,
you took that along with your
slight of hand and warm loving presence.
Your room and little treasures shall remain,
we shall go forward, age and time ticking.
You shall remain in your youth, young forever.
But the pain of longing is so intense,
Everyone says it gets easier as time passes,
but they don't know of the little quiet times,
the french fry lunches, the concern and caring
when you didn't go out with your friends
to be with me when I was sick.
They can't know we were the best of
friends, sharing our inner thoughts and secrets,
our hopes and dreams.
ALL shattered in an instant of time
I couldn't stop.
I was there for your beginning, to hold you
lovingly in my arms.
I wish I could have held you in the end to make
the circle complete.© 1995 by Belinda Bennett-Hartmann