You were 5 foot 5 with brown skin
And short hair just like mine
You had a tattoo across your chest
Saying ‘never leave your brothers behind’
Your big smile shone so brightly
You loved to have a joke
Outgoing, crazy, lovely, funny
With a big heart filled right up with hope

Watching Halloween, I heard sounds in the closet
I got up to try and see what was there.
It was you, trying to scare me, by making all the noises
And you frightened me by spinning the chair.
You did wrestling at high school, played football in the army
You were 8 years overseas
And even when you were out there in dangerous situations
You made your way through life with ease

Romaine, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye
God guides me through the sorrow
I hear your voice saying ‘leave yesterday behind,
And look forward to tomorrow’.

You loved your brothers Rashad and Shunba,
And adored your sister Shavon,
I’d watch you playing and laughing together through the window
It’s hard to accept you are gone
They love you and miss you, remembering the good times
When you fell asleep in the tub
You took care of Kalique and Jayniha
Who both knew how much they were loved.

Romaine, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye
God guides me through the sorrow
I hear your voice saying ‘leave yesterday behind,
And look forward to tomorrow’.

The memories come back when I look at your pictures
Your face is clear in my mind,
I hear you sing, “I don’t need money to have a good time,
You can leave all your problems behind”
I’ve kept (all) your messages, I miss you sending flowers,
You’d call me every day
To say you love me, but when you, came back round Mother’s Day,
We never got to celebrate.

My special son, Romaine. Your friends called you Ace, you were their big brother and leader and they looked up to you for support. Each day that passes I miss your smile, I miss your laugh, I miss you singing and not being able to dance. And although I sit and laugh at the memories, it was too soon to say goodbye.

Romaine, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye
God guides me through the sorrow
But I hear your voice saying ‘leave yesterday behind,
And look forward to tomorrow’.