An Old Poem to Offload and Remember Skip to content Menu Home Poetry Sonnets Photography Landscape Experimental Photographic Art Short stories Blog entries ABOUT THE BLOG! An Old Poem to Offload and Remember September 30, 2021 by Pat Fitzgerald, posted in Blog entries, Poetry This past week or so has been amongst the toughest that I have faced all year. On the 26th of September 20 years ago, we laid our youngest child (Darren) to rest. Facing the loss of a child is beyond a nightmare for any parent and one I have never completely come to grips with. In 2002 I wrote a poem that I dedicated to my late son. To provide a little background to this poem. Darren was aged 5 years when he passed due to Meningitis. Darren was born with Microcephaly and from the beginning he faced a long battle for a quality of life in itself. We never heard him speak a word. BUT his smiles and laughter spoke volumes. He never walked BUT had people running toward him. He was labled as NOT worthy of living in society, BUT he thought us and For one thought ME how pure gentle love can achieve so much. More than all else he thought me how to be a better person. The symbol of a butterfly was and always will be very important to us because of an appearance of a Little Butterfly resting on Darrens little Coffin during his funeral. I wish to write more but will let it at this. All children regardless of their ability, or perceived ability or inability ARE worth far more than you or I will ever give them credit for. ALL LIFE IS WORTH MUCH MORE I learned that the hard way both from my late 5 years old son and his death. This poem was written in memory of my darling son Darren, whose short life touched the hearts of many. Darren Fitzgerald 16/7/1996 - 26/9/2001 