Pictures and Memories

Pictures and memories is that we have of you now,

and yes – they will have to do

to appease our lovely desire not forget what is precious.

Pictures and memories are all that are left of you now,

and as your spirit moves between us

we will honor your memory in the proceeding days to come.

Pictures and memories are such a wonderful thing,

a thing sort of like being born more than once or twice.

Love is a fleeting thing for those that never believed in love.

The fleeting moment of this time

expends so much energy,

and yet, keeps everything in its proper perspective.

Pictures and memories constantly remind us of that gentle time

when everything seemed perfect

and would never change –

only by the way of an accident would this embellish the

memory of your smile.

Pictures and memories are all that will never grow old

of your memory, and yet – we all will soon grow old

one day if time permits this to be so.

Your father and mother have collected pictures and memories

in their mind, and they will find the time

to place them in a place where eternity exist

and share the memory of good times as it was meant to be.

Poem by Alfonso Coley - Photo Provided by Aaron Coley and Family

A Rite of Passage for Aaron the Befallen Son

The brevity of the moment has come to pass - as my nephew Aaron Coley has now succumbed to a swimming accident that occurred more than two weeks ago – which he would not survive from this tragic accident. My brother is presently torn between the why and why God did this had to happen to his son whom had such a bright and promising future? There is no easy answer to this question on why some people live a long and prosperous life, and why some accidents happen.

I wrestled with how to put in writing about my feelings on how I could write anything pertaining to my nephew premature and untimely death. It is a rite of passage that I dedicate these words to my feelings of
deep sorrow about the enduring brevity of my nephew leaving this earth a little too soon, a little less before the maturity of his life, where his dreams will never come to fruition before this lifetime.

Bitter sweet is this moment in time, two days before my fifty second birthday, and six days past my brother forty eighth birthday. I wish that I had more time to spend contented moments with my nephew, but it makes no difference about what I previously wished for, something that could have happened, but never will come to light of this time and place. This is a most bitter sweet moment for the mother, father, and family members, but it is also a time and opportunity for the family to reflect upon the happy times, and also not a time to echo nor reflect upon the negative affect of losing a child at such a tender age.

A rite of passage is what all of my family will live with today and tomorrow, and it is up to each and every one of us to bridge the inconsistency of this life, where our well connected family will need to support and love each other unconditionally in this most delicate time. This is the road we travel, the path which leads us into eternity arms of sweet release. As I spoke with my brother about his pain of losing a son, I also let him know that he does not walk alone in his pain. My Brother is very fortunate to have an abundance of family support to walk with him through this troubled time.

The call of God has welcomed a new spirit into the arms of the vast universe of Heaven - which we all struggle with the complexity of life and death. Even though many of us may not want to accept this death as premature, we all will have to come to terms with and learn to accept the the reality of this most difficult time.  A long life my nephew will not have, but his spirit will remain within the heart, mind and soul of each family member whom loved him dearly, and traveling through this heart wrenching moment, this death will not separate us, it will indeed make us stronger in our living deeper spirit, more compassionate in our depth of this moment in time, and hpoefully become more loving in our deliberate dense relationships. Friends and family will remember Aaron the befallen son, a star that is part of eternity stars now – the wonderful corridors of light – where our tears are forgiven for the broken hearted.

Content by Alfonso Coley - All Rights Reserved"

Where Are The Supermen?

No tears when we are born from this earth,

and yet - the baby cries out for constant love.

But the golden veil responds back from a ferocious death,

and in turn repels the energy of this universe.

In some honest desperation

our wisdom is tested by what we believe

not to be, and in our last desperate act

we always cling to the belief of the impossible.

Between the innocent child whom has no super hero,

it is the stark reality of the belief

of love reverent before his spirit may grow not to die.

The love that keeps us grounded

in this life, is living between

what is here and there.

Where are the supermen who will save my child

from this disparity?

Where are the supermen

who have no idea

how to save my brothers child?

Where are the supermen whom look so wonderful -

but yet know the consequence of this fragile life of this shuddering time?

Poem by Alfonso Coley - Photo by Aaron Coley - All Rights Reserved"

A Prayer for Aaron W. McMullen Coley

The most paradoxical thing in the world happened to me just before I began to start a new Blogger project Blog relating to family values. Upon retrieving my phone messages two weeks ago – I received an urgent disturbing message from my brother stating that his son Aaron Coley befell to a near death swimming accident, and that he is currently on life support at U Mass Memorial hospital in Massachusetts. One day before I decided to postpone my new Blogger Blog, it occurred to me that I should give my Blog a more defined purpose – pertaining to the subject matter to be included in the Blog, but little did I know that this turn of events would lead me to re-think what my very first Blog article would be about, in addition to what my Blog name would consist of.

This turn of events has definitely changed my perspective about the dynamics on what my family values Blog will be about. It has awakened in me a new defining purpose that my Blog will not only be about my family recent turning of unfortunate events, but it will include all facets of family life that shape America today. I cannot intelligently speak about family values from other countries around the world, due to the fact that my birthright rest in the United States, but that may be even more so why this Blog may be a healing place where any person can share their personal stories about family values.

It would take a very well traveled person to speak about their other extended family values, and just maybe – this is where my journey begins with this Blog. Maybe this is an opportunity on how we all can make an effort to assert our self in being proactive with our loved ones, instead of being disconnected by feeling remorse for not being a life support in the bad times – which matter the most.

Upon very deep and contemplative thought, my wish is for this Blog to be about healing, staying connected with family, learning to love and support your family for the good, bad, and ugly.

My constant prayer will be for my nephew to recover from this tragic and unfortunate accident, and to also to be able to live a long and prosperous life. My other prayer will be for the recovery of something lost, something we are all longing for, something that keeps us together as a family, love. This one word carries a lot of weight, but in actuality – it is the glue that keeps a family from falling apart. Hopefully it is the glue that bonds our love deeper into the understanding of family unity. Often times many family members carry the weight of bad feelings, unhealthy grudges – which in turn lead to a conflict between a disconnections in how a family relationship exist.

My family has undergone several trials and tribulations throughout the years, and yet – we have become better stewards of our responsibility on being the best family we can be, to help support each other.

Do not let tragedy bring your family together under false pretenses, join hands and hearts and love one another unconditionally, it is the glue which keeps the fabric of a family from falling apart.

My family Blog is about the ancestry of human evolution. We are all part of a master plan, but in this life - you live, so share your family with the world. If you like to leave a prayer for my nephew, please feel free to do so, and come share your family values, opinions, and feel free to leave your comments on the Tragic Survivor Blog.

Article by Alfonso Coley - Photo Courtesy of Aaron Coley - All Rights Reserved"