It Should Have Been Me
written by: Elizabeth Sams
You called today to tell me
your good news
and my heart cried out
because your good news
should have been
my good news
but it wasn’t.
You laughed as you
spoke of what was to
come and how your life was
whole and you felt fulfilled
and happy and
mine wasn’t.
I grieved and silently
wished you ill.
Your happiness should have
been my happiness
but you won
and I lost again
on this happiness
roller coaster.
Too many hopes
and wishes and dreams and
hurts to overcome
and so, I smiled
and said “I am happy for you.”
But I wasn’t.
Elizabeth Sams retired as a nurse educator, consultant and health care leader in pursuit of her love of writing buried under a bush for so long. She has had many articles, documents, reports, curriculum pieces, organizational histories and programs, and creative workshop materials used and published during her nursing career. As a consultant in leadership areas, Elizabeth developed workshop and promotional materials for an international team-building organization. Elizabeth is currently writing in several genres: poetry (traditional, free verse and prose), children’s board books/short stories/poetry, creative non-fiction/memoir, and fiction. She began submitting her work in May 2020 and has been pleased to have her work published in Plum Tree Tavern Journal, The Writer’s Group/Grey Thoughts Literary Journal, Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, Gabriola Arts Council Newsletter and The Drabble Quarterly.
Latest posts by Elizabeth Sams (see all)
- When Life Gives You Lemons - June 15, 2021
- The Coffee House Stage - March 4, 2021
- Change - November 28, 2020
