I was there - could she hear
my feeble comforts in her ear
or does nothing
carry clear into that wait?
All my tears
and snot and sobs
in the breach -
couldn't stop
the stilling spirit
come to rob,
come to take.
So I bargain with the beast -
come and gather,
go in peace.
But after all of this
at least
give me a sign
that she goes to a better place
into gentle arms of grace.
But all I get -
an open grave.
Faith is not kind.
For Karin's prompt at Real Toads. Also submitted to Poetry Pantry.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- Maude Lynn
- Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. ---Flannery O'Connor
18 comments:
Hey MZ - lost my first comment due to bad internet here, so this may not carry the full weight of my reaction to your poem--
Such a strong poem--it has the weight of experience honestly recounted, and the power of that. The beginning is so strong, with the there and hear, and the wanting the other being to be there and to hear and to stay here--just super strong, and replete--the poem continues as strong. I was with my father and later another family member (don't want to say) when they died. You go beyond that into the lingering grief. Thanks so much for participating in the prompt. K.
I know that wishing for a sign and not getting one. Love the words "into gentle arms of grace". I do believe she was received in just that way. But nothing prepares us for how huge the Absence is. It becomes a presence in itself. Sigh. A powerful poem.
This poem is beautiful, emotive and powerful 💖💖 and speaks volumes about what goes around in our heart when we bear the loss of a loved one. Love "gentle arms of grace" a tender and profound image 💖💖
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Faith is not kind....I get that
💖these feelings are so pure and unfettered💖 this is truly an awesome write
Have a blessed Sunday
much love..
A powerful emotive poem so well put across.
Faith can seem very unkind, I hope and wish that our loved ones always know we are there. Right to the end
And that's the thing about faith that makes the real deal so hard to come by and so genuine, I guess. She's a hard taskmistress.
That moment is one that never leaves you if you have been through it... that passing and the stabs of emotion.. so well described... I shudder.
Your story is chilling, spare and well told -- made me shiver with the stark truth of it. I think that's happened to me with your writing before, Mama..part of your magic. Thanks for sharing.
"come to rob,
come to take" and
"into gentle arms of grace"
are especially moving.
Whew! Intense, honest, deep. Breathtaking as so often with your poetry!
Powerful piece of how life is just not fair, and often, not kind.
Oh, how this breaks my heart. Been there.
The spare language conveys the agony so well.
All so true, this tale of loss, the bargaining, the emptiness that stretches ahead. As painful as it is on point.
Faith is a maid I've never known. I wish I did, though, especially at night ~
Yes. And yet we carry on in faith. Thank you.
Post a Comment