A recipe for humans
  Composed of DNA
      Nineteen thousand genes
What if one went astray?

Much like any other child
  Normal leaving mother's womb
      Mucopolysaccharides
Turn body into tomb

Body’s failure to recycle
  Every damaged cell
      Eventually accumulate
Unseen but wreaking hell

Broken bricks build damaged walls
  They break and fall apart
      Broken cells within my son
Damaged brain and bone and heart

He couldn't use his words
  To tell me how he felt
      He couldn't play like other kids
We played the hand God dealt

They say he was a special child
  A gift from God above
      Not for what he could not do,
His special gift was love

He loved me just for being there
  You saw it in his grin
      He loved me for not giving up
And just for loving him

© Michael J. Nappi

We’ve wept so much it hurts to cry
Still the tears they fill our eyes

We miss your love and ache each night
How can two wrongs make a right?

When you were here God made you pay
                     And still you smiled like it’s okay                    
Then He gave you so few years
It crushed us past the point of tears

We’re not as strong as we pretend
And all the heartache never ends

But when you see us from above
You’ll know we have an endless love
                     
For you’re with us and we’re with you
And your love’s all that brings us through

So each of us will live our life
Kiss the joy and taste the strife

Without this pain that we now feel
All that love would be unreal
 
© Michael J. Nappi 

Reflecting on my darkest day,
Lament and anguish fill my head.
My soul shattered, heartfelt dismay,
Your cool quietus, there in bed.

Attempts to breathe life back to
Child's cold, and lifeless frame.
Unwanted memories while few,
Embedded deeply... all the same.

These wounds not healed by time alone,
A badge to honor those we've lost.
Resoundingly, the heart wails intone,
Cries to my God, whom I accost.

Four lustrum passed since angel day,
Time has failed to dry my tears.
But in reflection I can say,
You made me better, through the years.

It's clear I'm not the man I was,
But that man lacked so very much.
A better soul, I now repaus,
As my life reflects your touch.

I celebrate your gifts each day,
In everything I do.
Life's a pleasure, to be embraced,
Mine is better... thanks to you.

©  Michael J. Nappi 

I have an angel there above
whose face I know, and soul I love
I was there, when he was here
Now he’s gone… yet always near

 My angel, my friend
 my cross, my son
  my heart was broken
 my job is done

I loved him more
 than words could say 
  and still… the Lord took him away

I watched him suffer
 I saw him strain 
 now, at last he’s free of pain  
and in the end we'll meet again

my special angel
 my son, my friend

  © Michael J. Nappi

I bought my son a balloon
    A red one to raise a smile
He should have it very soon
    It’s flown higher than a mile

On its side I wrote three words
    And I drew a picture too
Some may think this was absurd
    To simply say “I love you”

Love remains here to stay
    It will never disappear
When I’ll see him I can’t say
    But in dreams I hold him near

Through the clouds I watch it soar
    To the place where angels dwell
Finding him at heaven’s door
    With that smile I know so well

© Nov 2014, Michael J. Nappi