Monday, April 22, 2013

Powerful Connections In Memories

 
             Ruth and Stacey host a wonderful writing community at their Two Writing Teachers blog each Tuesday.  Come join the fun, or at least read some great slices of life!
             Use the hashtag #slice2013


             A giveaway to note!  Visit the Teaching Authors website for a terrific giveaway.

             Don't forget to look to the right to see whose turn it is to add a line to the Progressive Poem, the idea created by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem.  Then head over to see how it's going!



              There was a moment in the past when I knew that my husband was going away, at least the one I had known and loved all the years.  That memory returned last week when I spent time in Missouri at my sister-in-law Kay’s funeral.  Funny how some events trigger other memories.  
               I don’t remember if anything particular happened, only that we had been watching stars outside before going to sleep.  We had a good view from our bedroom window.  This is a poem that I wrote to try to capture the feeling.



Twinkles show in the stars at night.
I saw them light up the sky
from our bedroom window.
With some dread I turn
to look at you, knew I needed
the book of you, because you
would soon be gone.
©Linda Baie 2013



32 comments:

  1. Linda, your poem captures and shares the sense of dread and impending doom you felt and that moment. Perhaps, the reality of sadness is strongest when we are surrounded by such great beauty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anita, your words seem very wise. I imagine that is it exactly. Thank you!

      Delete
  2. Linda,
    Thank you for sharing this memory. Hopefully the other memories - the ones filled with love and laughter - are helping to sustain you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, there are a lot of them. Thanks Maria!

      Delete
  3. Wow. This is a powerful poem, Linda. Thank you for sharing it and yourself with us.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm just very teary now; I can feel your words so deeply. I think of you and your husband often, imagining how difficult it would be. I so admire your strength and integrity. Thank you for sharing this; it will perhaps lend strength to others in similar situations. Perhaps a collection of these poems of strength would be in order? Just a thought. Prayers for continued comfort.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Donna. I actually try not to share often, but this time the moment rather threw me & I wanted to. It has been such a journey.

      Delete
  5. It is so sad to realize that the person who has been such a vibrant part of your life is slowly slipping away. Your poem reflects that. Beautiful, Linda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Elsie. I appreciate your words. It has made me so aware to do all I can in the day, because one doesn't know what's coming tomorrow.

      Delete
  6. Universe is vast and endless. We often would like to think of our lives and the lives of our dear ones as vast and endless. You have caught the truth of human life in your lines of poetry. Beautiful and sad at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What wise words, Terje. It's a new way for me to think of this. Thank you!

      Delete
  7. I love when you said that you 'needed the book of you'. It is such an line with grief attached. I often feel that when I am with my mom these days...so hard. xo nanc

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nancy. It's nice to hear you know what I mean. I'm sorry about your mom, too.

      Delete
  8. Beautiful, Linda. And thank you for sharing the process of coming to terms with love, loss, and the way our memory turns to the past even as it prepares for the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tara. I'm so late, had a lo-ong school meeting this evening! I appreciate the way you described it-so right!

      Delete
  9. There is a sense of eminent sadness lurking at the edges of the beautiful scene. It's almost haunting. This poem touched my heart Linda. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome, Robin. It does help to try to express my feelings through words, trying to come to some terms with what has happened, is happening.

      Delete
  10. I cannot imagine walking in your shoes, Linda. So much love and loss... it must feel like it's too much to bear sometimes.

    What a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it with us. It filled me with sadness, but also with love since only great love can produce feelings like the ones you're having.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Stacey. It does seem to help to remember. I know some think it's too painful, but to me it isn't-it's lovely that we did have such a happy life.

      Delete
  11. "I need the book of you." so true, so sad, so real. Thanks for sharing your ups and downs with us. The connections are special.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So beautiful and so sad. I know this dread - with my mother. It must be so much more painful when you have it for your spouse. "You would soon be gone." Such a tough and vivid line.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It touches me that it touched you, too, Maureen. Those feelings are very real, and seeing that 'going away' is the tough part. Thank you!

      Delete
  13. Oh Linda, your poem is heartbreakingly beautiful. I don't really have any more words to say to you, but know that I feel for you and I love reading your words.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jennifer. I appreciate the response very much.

      Delete
  14. Your poem so captured love and loss and memories and need. You grabbed my emotions so deeply. I can't imagine living with this on a daily basis. My mom had memory loss but still knew us til the end.
    Simply beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Beverley. Yes, it is a gift I think to be able to say goodbye at the end. I did with both my mother and my stepdad. This is a different kind of goodbye really.

      Delete
  15. Linda, thank you for sharing these difficult moments with us. A painful moment, but one made richer by your realization to treasure it! And you captured it so well in these few words.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Ramona. I appreciate your words!

      Delete
  16. This leaves me nearly speechless, and fearful of saying something stupid. :) I have experienced a lot of loss, and wish I had moments like this - documented, recorded, timeless and priceless - something to hold on to. My greatest fear around those I have lost is not honoring them well, not honoring the feelings that I had for them, the vivid memories fading... your poem is such a strong reminder of why I now write so vivaciously about times I spend with loved ones... in hopes that if I ever need to, the memories will be there for me to hold onto without the fear of wondering how accurately I am pulling them back into my mind. Thank you for sharing such beauty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Jen. This touches me that someone should see the need for writing and capturing the moments. I love that you do that too.

      Delete

Thanks for visiting!