Trotting along,
without a care.
My dearest friend,
My horse named Bear.

His hair so black,
It matches the night.
Standing so tall,
In all of his might.

If you listen real close,
You can hear him run.
His hooves strike the ground
Like the beat of a drum.

I could watch him all day,
I’d stand here and stare.
My dearest friend,
My horse named Bear.

I’ve been there for you,
that’s for certain.
But let’s take a look,
behind the curtain.

You were there for me,
After I lost my Dad.
You kept me happy,
When my world seemed sad.

All of my children
have rode on your saddle.
You helped me raise them,
and that was a battle.

Through all of the hard times,
You’ve always been there.
My dearest friend,
My horse named Bear.

It’s been so hard,
to see you in pain.
I’ve cried so much,
My tears are like rain.

I know in my heart,
What I have to do.
But how on Earth,
Do I say goodbye to you?

You’re more than an animal,
You’re more than a pet.
You’re a part of our family,
that we’ll never forget.

These years with you,
Have been so great!
But its time for you to go,
to an even better place.

And I know one day,
I’ll see you there.
My dearest friend,
My horse named Bear.

-Poem written for my mother-in-law, Susan, and her horse, Bear, for his day of passing.

Do you think that it’s possible
for someone to be so good,
that God calls them home
before you think He should?

We say it all the time,
“God must have needed him.”
but a lot of those times,
they didn’t even believe in Him.

There’s no other reason
that you would call Brad home,
and his beautiful fiancé
would be left all alone.

Now our whole family
is questioning your plan.
Why, God, why
would you take this young man?

You’ve broken the heart
of a father and a mother.
And let’s not even mention
what you did to his little brother.

The ripples flow further,
they hit my wife too.
Her mother is his aunt
now SHE is mad at you.

Granny holds it together,
sewing like a thread.
Even though she’s strong,
she wishes it were her instead.

This is so unfair,
and all a bit unusual.
But what do you expect,
when a wedding becomes a funeral?

We see you moving.
Guiding us through.
In all of this darkness,
we’re all seeking you.

So God, move in,
wrap your arms around this family.
You say you’ll work this for good,
even though it’s a tragedy.

Although we’re all grieving,
one thing is for sure.
It is only by your grace,
that we shall endure.

I know Bradley is with you
up there in Heaven.
And I know that he sees
all the love that’s been given.

Please give him a hug
from all of us here.
Tell him we miss him,
and we’ll hold him so dear.

Thank you for what we still have,
and remind us each day
that this life is a gift,
so live it the Bradley way!

~Amen~

RIP Bradley Davis. Forever 23.

I don’t know where
my sunglasses are…
Perhaps I left them
in the car?

Or maybe they are
beside my bed?
I usually keep them
on top of my head.

Did I put them
in a drawer?
I hope I don’t find them
on the floor!

When did they
even go missin?
Maybe I left them
in the kitchen?

I know I had them
when we crossed the bridge.
Did I put them
in the fridge?!?

I’ve looked here,
I’ve looked there.
I cannot find them
anywhere!

Well, I guess they’re gone
for the rest of my life…
Nevermind! I found them!
… I asked my wife.

If “Love is patient”
and “Love is kind”,
then why do I feel
like I’m losing my mind?

It’s not easy to be patient,
when your family is all around.
It’s also hard to be kind,
Or, at least, that’s what I have found.

My mother’s mind wanders,
she never stays on task.
When it comes to what she’s doing,
I always have to ask!

“Where are you going now?”
“How long will it take?”
“Do you have to do that right away?”
“You’re going to make us late!”

Granny’s got a mouth,
and she runs it every day.
When it comes to me and Mom,
she’s always got something to say!

“Go brush your hair,
it looks like a wig!”
“Oh, you’re getting seconds?
Your belly’s getting big!”

Snapping back is in my nature,
sometimes I want to fight!
But I love them both so much,
so, on my tongue, I bite.

I give myself some time,
to process what I heard.
I remember who I’m talking to,
before I speak a word.

Mom might drive me crazy,
but she brought me in this world.
I know I gave her a hard time,
when I was just a girl.

Granny doesn’t mean to hurt us,
when her words come out so sharp.
She just doesn’t have a filter,
but she does have a heart.

We’re all a little crazy,
we’re each a little nuts.
But at the end of the day,
that’s what makes us “US”!

So it may not be easy
to be patient and kind,
but I’ll put in the extra work
for this family of mine.

-Caitlin Jablonsky

“I wrote this poem from my wife’s perspective about her relationship with her mother and grandmother.”
-Matty Jablonsky

I know you didn’t mean to,

I know you didn’t try.

It was just a stupid mistake,

You didn’t want to die…

You were doing so good,

We were so proud of you!

But good emotions, sometimes,

They’re overwhelming too.

Maybe I should’ve called,

Or answered that last text.

But I didn’t see this coming!

I didn’t know you were next!

I know it’s kinda late now,

And maybe weird to say…

But I love you so much,

And I’ll miss you every day.

This is so unfair,

No one knows how to feel.

I keep waiting to wake up,

Or hear that this isn’t real!

What do I tell the people,

When they ask me how you’ve been?

I suppose, I’ll tell the truth…

That addiction never ends.

I’ll tell them if they’re hurting,

They call always call on me.

I couldn’t be there for you…

But for them, maybe I could be.

Maybe I can help someone,

Maybe they will learn,

That drugs aren’t “the fun you can’t have”…

They’re the hell you don’t deserve.

Facebook Facebook,
Here we go again…
“Like if you agree!”
“Share and tag your friends!”

It’s all the same stuff,
just on a different day.
“I never make posts like this…”
“So I just wanna say…”

No one really cares,
this isn’t even real.
“Click the link below!”
“What a great deal!”

Scrolling and scrolling,
the hours fly by.
“Someone liked your post!”
“Someone went live!”

But we’re all missing out,
on a little thing called “life”.
A husband stares at his phone,
and ignores his lonely wife.

No one raises their kids,
it’s easier it seems…
Children don’t make noise,
when they stare at the screen.

I worry what it’s doing,
to our world and our minds.
It’s become a way of life,
or a sign of the times.

I feel like a prisoner,
and I know I’m not alone.
We’re all prisoners now,
that’s why it’s called a “cell” phone.

One year of marriage,
and four years together.
It makes me think back,
to when I first met her.
Working at a factory,
on that old paint line.
When she walked in,
I thought “Damn, she is fine!”
I never would have thought,
with just a little bit of time,
that beautiful woman,
would some day be mine!
I got her number,
as soon as I could.
With a girl like that,
I knew that I should.
A few failed attempts,
some moments that we missed.
But how could we have known,
that it would lead to this?
I had no idea,
that I’d love her forever.
I wasn’t even sure,
I’d be able to get her!
Then it finally happened,
She came over to my house!
And so began,
our game of “Cat and Mouse”.
She needed to be comforted,
the world had broken her heart.
And for whatever reason,
I was her place to start.
We were both finally single,
and, now, connected at the hip.
And we were both available,
to start a good relationship.
She liked my calming nature,
the way I eased her mind.
I liked her hippie style,
and, to me, she was kind.
I never thought I’d be here,
this place I am today.
A happily married husband,
who got married last May.
It all seems so surreal,
but in no way fake.
My heart is finally stable,
and I know it won’t break.
So today we celebrate us!
Just me and my girl.
But it’s so much more than that.
Because that’s my whole world.
-Matty Jablonsky

That’s it!
I’m done!
It’s over!
You won!

I’m tired of fighting!
I’m tired of losing!
I’m tired of running!
I’m tired of using!

I’m sick of the lies!
I’m sick of this plug!
I’m sick of not sleeping!
I’m sick of these drugs!

Something has to give!
Something has to break!
Something has to change!
Before it’s too late!

I know I can do this,
I just have to try!
I know that it’s in me,
I don’t want to die!

I’ll do what I have to,
just tell me the way!
I need your help,
and I need it today!

If I wait til tomorrow,
I know I won’t last!
These demons inside me,
are pulling me back!

So God, if you’re there,
can you do it again?
Say “Let there be light,
inside of this man!”

You’re all that I have,
and all that I need.
So please, Lord, help me…
I’m down on my knees.

Do you think that I’m alone?
Do you think that I’m unique?
Do you think that I’m the only addict,
with a good heart underneath?
Look beyond the drugs,
the sores and the blisters…
We’re mothers, we’re fathers,
we’re brothers, and sisters.
It may be hard to see,
I know you can’t tell.
Cause I was there too,
and we hide it so well.
The addiction takes over,
and you watch them disappear.
Into another world,
like the other side of the mirror.
But there is a way out,
They can become so much more, you see!
A lesser travelled path,
That we call “Recovery”.
It’s not an easy road,
and many won’t even try.
Unless they reach the point of change,
some will use until they die.
So next time you see that junkie,
or that drunkard on the street.
Pray that they get better,
That, God they finally meet.
Because I am not alone,
and I am not unique.
I am just another junkie,
Who got back up on his feet.