Not Yet A Man ~ 11/24/2005 Poem by Loretta Rowley

I watched you grow up.
Even sometimes from afar.
At first you had your gaurds up to all.
Trying to keep from getting close.
I believe you know I loved you.
So, we became closer as the years passed.
You grew not only in height but in materity.
All before my eyes.
A life taken a bit early.
Not even yet a man.
A mother's dreams start to shatter.
She feels at times she is to blame.
If 'only this' or 'that' is all that runs through her mind.
Hopefully one day she will put those thoughts away.
I want her to be strong and want to live again.
Maybe one day she'll know that's what you want.
Now we can watch you grow by watching your brothers.
Because, everytime we look at them we'll see you, also.

This was written about Jordan, whom didn't get to become a man.