Seeds unplanted

a lament of loss and miscarriage

Photo by Daniel Dan on Unsplash

I wrote this poem back in June of 2025, which was the month we had our first miscarriage — our dear Baby Hope. It was a bit too raw to publish then … it invited too much public pain and acknowledgement. But miscarriages often get hidden, swept under the rug, kept secret in solitary pain.

This isn’t necessarily wrong or sinful in and of itself; it might be that those experiencing it just never feel up to sharing. But at the same time, there are so many who go through this that it is shocking it is not talked about more. I thank the Lord for my family, friends, and church who loved us through this experience … but I’m still left with lament.

So here is this poem. For myself, my wife, my daughters, my family, and for you — if you have experienced miscarriage, you are not alone, and it’s ok to still hurt … I know I do.

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There are things I wish to have told you

About life beyond your room

But I’ll have to settle for secret prayers

Since you never got to bloom

—

I’ll never see you run and play

I’ll never hold your little hand

I’ll never see you end the day

I’ll never tuck you into sleepy land

—

Promises light as a feather’s touch

Blown away by the winds of life

Like dandelions on the breeze

I make wishes from prayers of strife

—

I’ll never see you run and play

I’ll never hold your little hand

I’ll never see you end the day

I’ll never tuck you into sleepy land

—

Your life a seed entombed so soon

Never given water to rise

The dirt received you eagerly

Before you even opened up your eyes

—

I’ll never see you run and play

I’ll never hold your little hand

I’ll never see you end the day

I’ll never tuck you into sleepy land

—

The saddest bit for me today

Is how much I know I missed

I’ll never hear your little giggle

So many tears I never kissed

—

I’ll never see you run and play

I’ll never hold your little hand

I’ll never see you end the day

I’ll never tuck you into sleepy land

—

But one day, I do believe

I have to believe it’s true

That I’ll wake up far away

And I’ll be standing next to you

—

I’ll never see you run and play

I’ll never hold your little hand

I’ll never see you end the day

I’ll never tuck you into sleepy land

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Lord … be with all of us who have lost those we love too soon. Be with those who have lost those they love. Be with parents, spouses, siblings, sons, daughters, and grandparents who are in pain. Be present, Lord … sometimes that’s all we want.