Lily Ann Ermi Poem by Faye Bartalone

She spends her day with a painted smile

Laughing at silly jokes the cute boy made

At lunch. Waving at the people who call

Her name in the crowded halls of the only high

School in the small town she lives in.

At work she uses a soft voice

Helping others find a new adventure

On pages. When it time to go home

She stops to buy flowers. She can feel them.

Everyone’s eyes on her.

They know, everyone knows

Pitying her with each breath she takes

Her father left her and her mother behind

With no words but a wave and his arm

Wrapped around another women.

Her mother was devastated, heart broken

And destroyed, all she would do

Was drink her pain away

Now every month on the 19th

Lily Ann brings flowers to a grave

That says Stacy Ermi, a loving mother

She can feel the tears coming when she

Squat down and lays the flowers on the grave

“You said you’d never leave me

Like dad did.”

“But you lied and now I have no mom or dad.

How could you leave me? ” She stands up

And wipes her tears, takes a deep breath

“But I still love you mom.”

She turns around and walks away.