My angels have names
They are Jim, and Annie
Grandparents I was supposed to have
On my father's side
Jim died, three years before
I was alive
And Annie, she lived until
I was almost two
I don't know much about Jim
Fewer than five photos of him remain
I've never heard his voice or,
Gotten to know his expressions
I'm told he was a hard man
That no one could break his stone face
But after he died and before I was alive
He knew me, and smiled
Annie actually got to experience
My bright, brand new eyes
She loved me and held me and,
In her arms I never cried
Still, she was taken
And left me with too many tears
The two who could have loved me
With the deepest purity were gone
I've been reckless, and careless
As taught to me by their son
Some parts of me feel their disappointment
In the work he has done
I wonder how much of my life
Would be different if they were here
Loving me and knowing me
Instead of leaving so painfully soon
And I wonder if my father would have been better
At the paternal task laid before him
Raising me alone without the advice
And influence of his own
Being born with love already removed
Created a lack of protection from those
Who were allowed to stay, and hurt
They know, it's not their fault
Still, I'm grateful because
They are my angels
Parts of me that will always be close
Yet remain, unknown
I wish that I could talk to them
Just once, now that I'm grown
I don’t think Jim would be able to contain his pride
And I think Annie would never let me go
Apr 16
Apr 16, 2026 at 12:03 AM UTC
My angels have names
They are Jim, and Annie
Grandparents I was supposed to have
On my father's side
Jim died, three years before
I was alive
And Annie, she lived until
I was almost two
I don't know much about Jim
Fewer than five photos of him remain
I've never heard his voice or,
Gotten to know his expressions
I'm told he was a hard man
That no one could break his stone face
But after he died and before I was alive
He knew me, and smiled
Annie actually got to experience
My bright, brand new eyes
She loved me and held me and,
In her arms I never cried
Still, she was taken
And left me with too many tears
The two who could have loved me
With the deepest purity were gone
I've been reckless, and careless
As taught to me by their son
Some parts of me feel their disappointment
In the work he has done
I wonder how much of my life
Would be different if they were here
Loving me and knowing me
Instead of leaving so painfully soon
And I wonder if my father would have been better
At the paternal task laid before him
Raising me alone without the advice
And influence of his own
Being born with love already removed
Created a lack of protection from those
Who were allowed to stay, and hurt
They know, it's not their fault
Still, I'm grateful because
They are my angels
Parts of me that will always be close
Yet remain, unknown
I wish that I could talk to them
Just once, now that I'm grown
I don’t think Jim would be able to contain his pride
And I think Annie would never let me go
