We'll Always Have Downtown

To my dearest "little one." Happy birthday.

On the gilded wings of hope - we planned as if every tomorrow was promised, like proud parents should. We schemed on turning the sky hues of pink or blue - over a Doug E. Fresh beat. But like any other Icarian tragedy, our ambitions flew much too high. Forethought blurred into the backdrop of our minds and we loss sight of the ground. Oh, how quickly flying becomes falling. What should have been congratulations & laughter became a long, long parade of condolences. And so, the music never played... the beat was lost to the silence of our brokenness.

Night fell like a cheap plate on a concrete floor, while despairing screams pierced sterile walls as maternal blood stain'd a fractured rainbow. Life and loss merged, quietly... and you were so perfect, wrapped in a blanket of sunflowers and honey bees, with caterpillar eyebrows you could see from across the room. But that obstinate clock on the wall reminded us that time was not part of the deal. So, our arms made a basket and we held you. Doing our best to squeeze a lifetime of love inside of two hours. Knowing we could never journey back to this fleeting moment, we clung to every single second.

Then - as you transitioned to the stars, our hearts went with you, and our spirits couldn't let go - so they didn't. They chase you down every avenue... playing hide & seek at every corner, singing to you sweetly during every rainstorm, and every full moon is a dinner table. Though that unfeeling clock was unkind, forever will prove to be gentler still... for we will always have downtown, because none of us ever left.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Cassie]

Travisss....How nice to see you and read you. It has been a long minute. Hope all is well with you

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Hey, old friend. Things are ok... I hope you have been well also. It's such a pleasure to see you're still here!

[Lydia Shutter]

An unimaginable loss. The honest emotions in every line found me teary eyes. Beautifully expressed. Lydi*

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Lydia.

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

The loss of an infant is a heart wrenching experience.
You captured the loss so brilliantly it brought back memories….
The clock stops, life evaporates before our eyes but we could never truly say goodbye.
I doff my hat to this masterpiece!

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you... and you have my sincerest condolences if you've experienced this as well.

[Titilayo Sarah Eguridu]

You’re welcome Travis.
The ache never diminishes.

[Ms claws]

Hi Travis, the printed word is so powerful!
Humans are so empathetic, mostly.
This could be a work derived from a genius mind or a true happening.
My favorite line? = "Night fell like a cheap plate on a concrete floor," That was my first hint.
The scenario you've created is sorrow-filled but I've had my heart broken reading poetry to find out it's all well-woven fiction.
Beautifully done! Chicks love it! Well, ya never know...YOU could be a chick. HAHAHA! God Bless.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you... I wish this were fiction. Unfortunately, this was a very real account of our loss of a child the day before our intended gender reveal. Life is a lot less forgiving than fiction.

[Ms claws]

Sorry but I've been "sucked" into a tragic write to have it revealed as fiction. This is why I think "comments" are not such a great idea. I've lost "two" children. One was a physician induced miscarriage. One was rape-abortion. Sorry for your loss.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you... and condolences to you.

[Ms claws]

Travis, et toi aussi...May we find consolation in share.

[emmajoygreen]

But only if the consolation is truly sincere. Oops, wrong box.

[RomaJ]

This poem is heartbreakingly beautiful, capturing both the pain of loss and the enduring presence of love...even fleeting moments are made eternal...“we will always have downtown, because none of us ever left” so beautiful. I'm in tears

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you for such a sincere review. I'm thankful you found this so affecting. It truly does give it the purpose I intended.

[AndreyaC]

This was beautiful my heart is with you

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you... I truly appreciate that.

[Chris Shaw]

Tears fell reading this painful account of your loss. A tragedy penned masterfully Travis. Such sadness.

Chris

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Chris... I did the best my heart and hand would allow.

[Chris Shaw]

Your best impressed Travis. Thank you for sharing.

[emmajoygreen]

A tragedy written truly beautifully. So sad.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, Emma.

[emmajoygreen]

'Then - as you transitioned to the stars, our hearts went with you, and our spirits couldn't let go - so they didn't. They chase you down every avenue... playing hide & seek at every corner, singing to you sweetly during every rainstorm, and every full moon is a dinner table. Though that unfeeling clock was unkind, forever will prove to be gentler still... for we will always have downtown, because none of us ever left.' Even in tragedy you fly, sir.

[honey]

my goodness, this was so touching to read…i can tell it pulled a lot out of you to be able to craft these words together, but you turned your pain into something beautiful; that’s true alchemy. thank you so much for sharing this piece of you, with us…happy birthday, little one 💚

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

Thank you, it was indeed a labor of love. Thoughts such as yours make it more than worth the effort.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This is so sad, it brought me to tears.
But at least you will always have downtown.

j.

[Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)]

That will. Thank you for the visit, old friend. It's still a pleasure.