This is a book filled with epitaphs, verses, and poems; some are written in verse, some are written with poetic effect, some philosophical, some passionate, some beautiful, and some dark. "EPITAPHS: Verses and Poems" is my third book; I hope you enjoy.

Epitaphs

Verses and PoemsBy Lance Buck Paul Smith

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Lance Buck Paul Smith
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-6328-0

Chapter One

I have fought with all my heart I have felt with all my soul I have lived as I have dreamt I have escaped death a thousand times before I have dealt with the devil only to be engulfed in his vengeance I have known all my life that one day I would have to beg God for forgiveness

* * *

There's no escaping this feeling that remains in my heart I knew that this relationship would be painful right from the start You showed me how to love with my heart unprotected But is there such a thing as love unaffected

* * *

I adore you, my dear I miss you so much, I wish you were here I continue on without you, never knowing what to expect I dream of the ever after, never knowing what will come next I love you, my dear Deep down inside, I know that somewhere you're near

* * *

I hope you can forgive me for not performing a miraculous rescue I can never forgive myself for not being able to save you Once I thought my abilities were limitless Now I feel absolutely powerless

* * *

For this day I do grieve For this person who left me As I sit here wondering why I can only try not to cry But the memories they gave to me Don't escape quite so easily For in my thoughts they will remain For in my heart I feel the pain

* * *

If I only knew Is there a God in heaven? Is there a devil in hell? Here is where my body lies But is my spirit still? Only in the after will I ever know

* * *

Remembrance Because of you, I was able to love With you my spirit now flies from above Because of you, I felt alive I continue on in this world, trying to survive Although my body may continue to be My soul only yearns to be with thee

* * *

Make a wish upon my grave For the Holy Spirit shall not forsake Neither the righteous nor the depraved Though soon your soul He shall take

* * *

I've danced with the devil and prayed for rain I've been unholy and felt the pain

* * *

I've lived a full life I've loved my parents, children, and wife I've acted on my dreams No matter how far-fetched they may have seemed I've risked everything from the beginning to end I've lost fortunes only to win them back again So believe me when I tell you that I did it all so right And now it's time for me to say a very long good night

* * *

Being left here without you Is like being left out in the cold Nowhere to go There's this void in my soul This hole in my heart Which used to be you

* * *

My will silently ends While my heart screams no

* * *

My soul is on fire My heart is still I'm all alone here without you What I would do to see you again I would forsake heaven And dive into the deepest pits of hell I would trade my soul to the devil And do all for his will I would do anything to have you all over again I'll love you till death and beyond to no end

* * *

Forsaken I have felt real beauty I have realized a treasured friend I have seen the face of a genuine heart I have known the soul of true love And it was with you

* * *

From then till now, I miss you, my love I wish there was some way I could see you once more You remain in my heart, even alive in my dreams I pray that one day I may find you again Oh my love, how I miss you so much

* * *

This casket was sealed with a kiss

* * *

To my family I've left behind Forget me not until your time Life is short and over fast Be sure to value each moment For it could be your last Do not grieve my death today For I am happy where I lay I love you all, good-bye, farewell Now do your best there in hell For He is coming, this I tell

* * *

I don't know if you can hear me I'm not even sure if I can feel you anymore I'm so cold here without you This emptiness inside is far greater than I It's so powerful and consuming Much more than I can endure I had no idea how encompassing it would be

* * *

Don't mourn my passing Life wasn't meant to be everlasting I know it hurts when there's nothing to harness But always look into your heart regardless Let my leaving Bring everyone closer to believing Because together again is what I was told Capture each moment and watch it unfold Realize there's no limit to what your future may hold Today is not free So don't take it lightly Be sure not to confuse what was said Because soon you too will be on your deathbed

* * *

I will always love you

* * *

You were there for me when I needed you You even held me on those nights when you didn't want to I remember our first night together and though I might have knew Unsure of certain things you'd tell me what to do Looking back at everything in our life that was untrue Makes me grateful to see how we grew Watching you leave this world was the hardest thing I've ever had to live through

* * *

You're not a lost memory, my love I miss you so dearly when I look above I always remember you're with our Creator The only one that is truly greater I miss you so much and when push comes to shove I want to give up when times get this tough Everything happens for a reason and yet again I will love you always, my wife, my lover, and my friend

* * *

If I only had one more day until my death I could have made just one more wish with no regret But now that I am free, that wish will never be For death has taken me

* * *

If your intentions are simply to back away from hell You may not make it to heaven

* * *

Trust You are on your own But not alone

* * *

I remain here amongst the living, while you are put to rest My body remains alive, but my soul has already slept Through all of this I have wept, yet my heart remains in unrest Since I've lost my lust for life, I now only thirst for death

* * *

Ones limits can only be decided when one can go on no more

* * *

I've lived my life as fully as I could I've loved as much as a person should Because of everything that was supposed to be Is the reason why my soul is now free

* * *

Good-bye is the word I have to say As you sit here wondering why I lay Awakening in the morning may be rough I will be watching over you with all my love

* * *

You were the love of my life

* * *

No matter where I go in this world, I cannot escape the memory of you You live on in my heart and in my mind I love falling asleep, as I always have the chance to touch you in my dreams I will always be with you

* * *

You came into my life like a savage storm Your love poured down on me like rain You pierced my heart like a lightning strike When you left , my soul was like the wreckage from a hurricane

* * *

You were hauntingly beautiful, sweet, kind, and nice Now I'm haunted by the memories of your fleeting, soft, subtle voice I cherish our moments, longing for them But now they live on only in my dreams

* * *

The journey I've lived had many turns Yet it's just the beginning, because my flesh is adjourned This is a celebration, just love, live, and learn I am now a spirit in your heart, for all that's concerned

* * *

A little bit of me lives on with you

* * *

My dearest mother You truly loved me unconditionally And through that I have learned to love without surrender You were always there for me when I needed you But just like a child, I never knew when or even if you needed me Because you loved me, and thanks to you I truly love

* * *

My father-my friend-my mentor He was the best friend I ever had He selflessly wanted only what was best for me He taught me more than any other He gave me someone greater to aspire to I miss you, my father, my friend, my mentor And to you I owe my love

* * *

Oh, my loving wife I long for those days when I could touch you, kiss you, feel the soft warmth of your skin I miss the loving gaze of your stare, running my fingers through your hair Since you've gone, I'm full of nothing but despair

* * *

I loved you like no other

* * *

I miss you, my love For you to leave me here all alone Is something more than I can stand I dream of being with you again I love you like never before and ever since

* * *

To my parents, your love has made the man I was To always look at God above To my brothers and sisters, your love was always there It made me stronger than my fear Listen to the wind and you may hear this whisper I love you all and you can handle all that's near Until next time, just put me out of your mind For I am in you and all that shines

* * *

Don't sit here and mourn over me For I've been taken up my soul is now free Though my flesh is not there next to you Wondering why is not what to do I am now in a better place And I will soon see your coming face

* * *

As you stand here reading this Remember that soon your life too will come to be missed So when it comes to me, if you caught even a fleeting glimpse Then you know too, that I did everything with good intent

* * *

For the essence of a good life Your penance is the price

* * *

I've dreamt like a king Lived like a lion Fought like a contender And shined like a star It's no wonder my life ended like the twilight from afar

* * *

It's your willpower at the start of every day That determines your success or failure in every way

* * *

So long is something I'd like to say It's the one thing I must before you leave today My spirit will always be with you in each and every way Know that I love you and for you I will pray

* * *

Time is brief when in the flesh Yet seems so hard until you rest One thing I've learned and I tell you now Live your life to learn and know how Be yourself by your heart It's always true and will never part

* * *

Today is the day I say goodbye To all things left behind But don't be sad For this is not bad We shall soon be together again

* * *

Every time I was sick, you made me feel better Whenever I felt down, you leveled me out You stood by me, even when I was in question Your love was honest and second to none For your devotion, I gave you all I had And with you, they buried the best part of me

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Epitaphsby Lance Buck Paul Smith Copyright © 2009 by Lance Buck Paul Smith. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.