Lisa is hosting Poetics Tuesday in the dVerse Poets Pub today ~ our challenge is to think about magical moments of intimacy we have experienced, choose one and write a poem about it ~~
in that precious moment
as Mother took her last breath
my world paused
time folded
how did I get from childhood to here
first kisses ~ teenage vows
first child, second, third, fourth
her support [ always ] her support
diapers, walking the floor
their Daddy gone to Vietnam
years later
divorce papers folded ~ like a paper cut
standing alone ~ standing tall ~ a job ~ a career
her support [ always ] her support
and ~~ at forty-three love found me again
laughter, candles, roses, wine
a man who made my knees weak
[ Mother approved ]
ten lovely years ~ then silence ~ grief
2002 ~ Grit
Mother needed me
five years of watchful waiting
love, tears, laughter, pain, joy
and I ~ as she took her last breath
felt somehow fuller as if
all the magic moments in my life
had led to this one
precious goodbye
With all the emotion of a film....as a reader I was taken to many places inside me.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautifully written, Helen. Very touching and heartfelt. You poem is so sharp and focused on this one moment in time. Well done!
ReplyDeleteDwight
DeleteHelen, so much to love about your poem. I like how it starts and ends with your mom. Lines that really stand out for me:
ReplyDelete"time folded"
"divorce papers folded ~ like a paper cut"
"her support [ always ]" (engraved with repetition)
"[ Mother approved ]"
What a blessing your Mother was to you and your loved ones.
Thank you for sharing such intimate moments with us.
Like Björn, Li's prompt took you to a special moment - like the last pearl threaded on a lifetime's necklace of memories Helen - beautiful...
ReplyDeleteYou and Björn both shared a very intimate moment, Helen, one that many of us have experienced, and relive in your heartfelt poem. You captured that feeling so well when the ‘world paused’ and ‘time folded’ to take you back to other intimate moments you both shared.
ReplyDeleteHeart touching piece!
ReplyDeleteA lovely and heartfelt piece that worked itself into my heart as well...
ReplyDeleteThat same moment... we will always remember it, and remember also that after that we are alone.
ReplyDeletea beautiful, heartfelt poem of life, love, loss.
ReplyDelete