"Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need of hell."  - James Mackay

Yesterday I received this poem from James Angus Mackay, a 27 year old postal worker and poet from Invernes in the north of Scotland.  I would like some feedback from readers regarding his work.  - poetheart 10/14/00

Little white coffin
little white cell
standing serene
at the end of the hall
silent he watches
and silent he prays
he prays to remember
to speed pain away

but what can replace a fathers loss
his baby girl
torn from safety, comfort, loving arms
and red-rimmed eyes shed all their tears
now there is nothing
no hope
no future
a time to come full of creeping fears

is there a heaven for Jenny to go
could life be so empty, so cruel
that all she was would end right there
no fun-filled schooldays, study, learning, graduation
no wedding day no husbands love
her children growing
no
just one split second in a drunks brilliant glare.

He can yet almost feel her
sat on his knee
asking him questions
smiling, full of girlish fun and pranks to play
hide mothers apron, brothers CD’s
but without little Jenny
silent and lonely the house will seem
the house will be

and though family surround him
offering support and a shoulder to cry
he is alone
his wife’s hand cold to him
her touch desired no more
nor his two bedroom terraced house
his job in the city
his only son’s desperate and grieving need

just to hug
to hold close
to say I love you
I miss you to little Jenny
his precious baby girl
now in her coffin
her little white cell

by James Angus Mackay

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