Käthe Kollwitz, "Frau mit
totem Kind" (1903)
watching as sunlight makes its way
across the room
coffee this morning for one instead of two
ambling through the garden gazing at flowers
I promised a thousand times to tend
perform the mundane tasks one learns after
years of togetherness
if only it mattered
one learns after
ReplyDeleteyears of togetherness
if only it mattered
There is that feeling of despondence when one is alone suddenly. Most will get over it in time though a few will take longer than others. Very true Helen!
Hank
So heart wrenching, Helen...perfectly captured emotion and imagery.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling not only sad but stunned. These are words I expect to feel the impact of at some point...and I've truly never had the words until now. We can't waste today by worrying about tomorrow but you've awakened some raw and unwanted feelings. No matter---truthful art. You've touched my soul.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I enjoyed reading this, Helen. Just tonight I was estimating my age when our youngest granddaughter might get married. Odds are I won't be there (though on-line life expectancy has me living to age 99).
ReplyDeleteLife goes on, make it count. Death of a spouse/long time close companion or a divorce or permanent separation tears one up if the relationship was good to the survivor. I did the divorce thing, it was hard even though really I'd had about all I could bear. I rented a cheap apartment, got an unlisted phone, and holed up. Except for work, like tending the flowers and paying bills. My bowling buddies were my support group as I see it now.
..
Oh, Helen! This broke my heart.
ReplyDeleteOh so sad. Agree with MZ--the down-to-earthness of it makes it even sadder. Well done. Thanks, Helen. k.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
ReplyDeleteYes, that is raw pain of LOSS.
It becomes for quite a while very raw when indeed a table set needs one less of everything... No reply, no breath, no warmth, no hand...
Nothing to share, only inward.
Sending hugs to you,
Mariette
There is a sadness and loss in this that it palpable to me. learning to live alone.
ReplyDeletewhile i was in Nepal, i was in many ways alone. i had 2 people that i knew could speak english enough to hold a true conversation...other than them it was people that at best spoke 40% english and understood small words...so it was a lot of the time i was talking to myself and god...
but a lot of aloneness...just different...smiles.
Whew... fills my heart with emotion, for sure.
ReplyDeleteOh, this tugs on my heart strings. So sad, but so artfully written.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Helen. I'm so glad to know you. xoxo
ReplyDelete... and happy new year to you!
Oh the burden of having to go on alone... and also it feels so strange to read this and realize how much have changed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this, Helen.
ReplyDeleteThis is emotional and well written.
Letting go is the hardest thing of all, but thereafter a sense of peace creeps in, once one finds a new balance to life.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I know this! Beautifully said.
ReplyDeleteThis is heartwrenchingly poignant!!
ReplyDeleteThat coffee "for one instead of two" squeezes the heart. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteSuch an appropriate replay as we plant our toad personas in a garden for those who will come to visit and sit among inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSo sad yet truthful. All the things we worry about that in the end don't matter.
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