Dedicated To Bobby

(For my son Robert Stephen Krempa 7/31/73-4/15/07) Please don't drink and drive...

I never kept a baby book

 

When you were growing up

 

Now I wish I would have

 

Now that you are gone

 

So let me take a peek

 

Into the past

 

To see what I can recall

 

When you were born

 

You had a screeching cry

 

That went right through me

 

You came into this world

 

On a warm summer night

 

You sure put up a fight

 

But that's alright

 

You learned to crawl, walk and stand

 

I knew someday you'd make a fine man

 

At six months old you learned to swim

 

It came quite natural

 

As a toddler you were quite the little gentleman

 

I remember when you wrote on the wall with crayons

 

You humbly erased it all

 

One time you got into a five pound bag of sugar

 

Spread it out into my green shag carpet

 

Talk about a sweet mess

 

You loved to fingerpaint with me

 

You could draw at the age of three

 

By the time that you turned four

 

You would run in and out our door

 

Playing hide and seek

 

By the time you turned five

 

You were a mischievious handsome little guy

 

At age six you loved to play pic up sticks

 

Star Wars and Army men

 

At seven you asked me what it was like in heaven

 

So many questions

 

I never had all the answers for you

 

At age eight you had your first crush

 

On a girl at school

 

At nine you were in your prime

 

At ten it was back to army men

 

Everybody knows

 

You sure loved to play GI Joes

 

You werent too much into fishing

 

But you went anyway

 

Just to please your dad

 

By the time you were eleven

 

You still asked me questions

 

About what it's like in heaven

 

At age twelve, you were quite sure of yourself

 

At thirteen you were the young man I knew you'd be

 

At fourteen you got a job and went to work

 

Helping out the janitor's at school

 

You put in long hours and worked so hard

 

I so admired you

 

At fifteen it was highschool and work

 

At sixteen it was the same

 

At seventeen it was the United States Marines

 

No longer a boy

 

But a full grown man

 

I am so proud to be your mom

 

Age eighteen to twenty-one

 

It was off to the land of the red sun

 

Your new travels had just begun

 

When you came home you turned twenty-two

 

Took care of your sisters

 

Did the best you could do

 

By the time you were twenty-three

 

You felt a need to break free

 

Probably from my apron strings

 

Among other things

 

Told me it was just something you had to do

 

To be on your own

 

To be your own man

 

It was hard for me to understand

 

You promised to keep in touch and you did

 

Not as often as I would have liked

 

I just wanted you home

 

I missed you so much

 

I hated you being so far away

 

So out of touch

 

I must admit you did real good

 

You proved you could survive on your own

 

You got through the tough times

 

You landed a job and took on another

 

You always were an over achiever

 

You worked so hard all your life

 

I just hoped someday you'd take a wife

 

Have some children of your own

 

Not be so all alone

 

Seven years passed by

 

Often I cried

 

Thinking about you

 

I loved you so much

 

Then one day out of the blue

 

You came home

 

I was so happy

 

You'll just never know

 

The way I felt inside

 

A mother's pride

 

And joy

 

Always my little boy

 

Yet such a wonderful man you turned out to be

 

It's a shame you had to die at the young age of thirty-three

 

Thanks to a drunk driver quite literally

 

Reviews

[Carrie Montgomery]

oh my dear...this broke my heart.
the questions he asked about heaven...as if he KNEW he'd be there sooner than he should! It seems as though the ones who leave us too soon ALWAYS burn the brightest and hottest. You made me love this boy of yours as if he were my own with this wonderful portrait you painted of him. You know, God can only loan us His angels for short bursts of time. I feel blessed just knowing YOUR angel's story. Precious one, there obviously was no need to keep a baby book for it is there in YOUR VERY HEART...impressed upon your soul, your mind. He lives on in the love you have of him and your wonderful tribute to him here. He lives on in the kindnesses you bestow upon others, your stories you share of him, IN THIS VERY POEM. He lives on in your heart- where it counts. No "baby book " could ever compare to these honorable words you have dedicated to him. This is a WONDERFUL poem in itself- but the meaning behind it, the tribute to such a fine man... makes it measure up to what poerty REALLY is.

Now on to a "sore spot" for me as well as you...
"It's a shame you had to die at the young age of thirty-three



Thanks to a drunk driver quite literally" if Dui's were treated more severly on 1st offenses, many people would NEVER go on to commit 2nd 3rd or even 4th offenses. 1st offenses are just a "slap on the wrist" 30 days w/o license (shorter if you pay your fine quicker) and a few hours of alcohol awareness counseling" if there was more jail time and stiffer penalties the FIRST offense there would be fewer deaths and fewer a*s hole drunk drivers !@!!!!!!!
my heart goes out to you. this is a wonderful poem!

[Jenn Wathen]

this is broken hearten the feel for it is amazing nice job

[Toni Prehoda Kahler]

I felt like I was going through the album of his life --- thank you for these wonderful word pictures of your son. I was so touched by the glimpses, the "sweet mess" of sugar on your carpet. You really showed me who he was; this is a very moving tribute to him. And I hear your heart.

[Su' Nacnetaf]

Nothing reflects better the pure essence of art as the words spoken directly from the heart to a beloved one, even if this beloved one is already gone. Your son seemed to have lived a great life, I know that feeling of loss, though I'm not sure if there's remote comparisson from being a parent or being a son. I took my time to read this, because I did not wanted to feel too nostalgic, but this is surely an excellent piece of poetry. He asked you about heaven, I'm sure any doubts about it are answered now. Thanks for sharing this personal experience with everyone. Excellent.

[Belinda Rice]

This is very touching but a very great write you had me in tears as if I was right there feeling your pain...I am always here if you need me...God Bless

[Beatrice Boyle (Grandm..]

My heart goes out to you. There is nothing worse than the loss of a child, no matter how old he is! I pray that you have come to terms with it by now, and that you are comforted to know he is in the hands of God, and is watching over you every day!

They are NEVER gone, as long as they are in your heart and mind!
They are as far away as your thoughts!

"I think of you every moment
As you were, handsome and tall
So you can see, my love
You're not far away at all
I've locked despair away
And thrown away the key
For as long as my mind can see you
You're still here with me!

Excerpt from "Always on My Mind"
Copyright� 2003 Beatrice Boyle
(All rights reserved)

[Bhavya Kaushik]

You know, we all face a incident in our life, which changes it entirely...
And it breaks my heart everytime I read about Bobby, Here in this poem, you have ripped your heart out!
This was so heart wrenching and touched the very core of me...

[Kelley]

heart breaking but very lovely Debileah. Hes in a better place now
I know you miss him very much.

Thanks for letting me in on a sad part of your life.

Kelley

[Spoken]

a heartfelt dedication. From your words I can see just what a great man he was. Hardworking gentlemen who loved his country and his family. beautiful

[Shellie]

another great tribute to your son