The Days Keep Coming

The days keep coming

As one comes to a close

Another has its beginning 

Both are unconcerned with our plans

Oblivious 

To joyous events

To tragic happenings 

To births

To deaths

To exuberant celebrations

To solemn commemorations

To whatever occasion may fall

Within each twenty-four hours

Weddings

Funerals

Birthday parties

Graduations

Same day

Billions upon billions

Living through each day

With events as myriad and diverse

As are those living them

Still, we wake

Still, we gather

We light candles 

We blow them out

We weep openly 

We laugh through tears 

 

We sing, we dance 

We live, we love 

As much as is possible 

We make the day ours 

Even if just for a moment 

While the days keep coming 

© Ron Simpson Jr.

July 27, 2025 

He Speaks. I Write. More Words.

 Now available on Amazon and Kindle 

https://a.co/d/ecgk9ZM 

Also: The Echo of His Voice 

https://a.co/d/erFyGCc

Welcome to the New Normal

(For Morgan Nicole Sky Ritchie - born February 5, 2012)

Nearly 9 months ago, things changed.

Eating and sleeping changed.

Walking changed.

Driving changed.

Work changed.

Relationships changed.

At more than one point, the foolish notion passed through your head,

"I'll be glad when you are born, so things can get back to normal."

Time continued, and so did the changes 

You grew inside me, and my feet disappeared.

You developed fingers and toes and got in the way of the steering wheel.

There were concerns about you and concerns about me.

We weathered the storms and made the new changes.

A new normal developed.

You grew, a little too much, and a new plan came along.

You were just going to have to arrive earlier than planned.

More changes brought more changes. "Are things ever going to get back to normal?"

A plan was made, and as often happens with plans, they were changed and changed again.

Finally, a date was set.

Alas, Morgan, like your parents, you chose to do things differently.

Two days before planned, you decided you had waited long enough.

Normal was closer than ever.

At 10:17 AM on Sunday, February 5, 2012, 'normal' changed forever.

"She is my daughter. The most important thing I will ever have in my life."

Welcome to the new normal.

© Ron Simpson Jr.

February 8, 2012

The House of Storms and Silence

This is the place where death rejoices—

Where silence is a song of sorrow,

And bones remember names

No longer spoken aloud 

This is the place where spirits cry 

Where words melt into the morass 

And love is written boldly 

On the surface of tears 

This is the place where grief lingers 

Where memories withhold 

And the scars of living 

Meld into the lines of death 

This is the place where hope clings

Refusing to let go 

Embracing every sunrise 

As if it were the first 

This is where love still resides 

Where peace reigns 

This is where hearts go 

When darkness roils 

This is where I face the winds 

Where I face the turmoil 

Untils the storms pass 

Until I return to me 

In the house of storms and silence 

Ron Simpson Jr.

June 7, 2025