Acutely Aware of Who’s Missing
Robert Pegel

God’s left his cross
and my son’s in his coffin,
and I’m not feeling anything anymore.
Must be a purpose to suffering
and death.
A stark reality awakens me.
No circumstance can shake me.
Put one foot in front of the other
and keep walking past the end
of the pier and into the water.
Not expecting a miracle just want
something good to happen.
Won’t walk on water.
Just hoping to float above
it for a little while.
Above the noise.
Silencing what consumes me.
Stronger than what isn’t important.
Lighter than what isn’t real.
 

 




​                                                                                                                   JANUARY 2026