Crumpled
The Ritual of Leaving.
The usual goodbye routine,
I pack, guilt riven
her brave face as the carer serves her breakfast.
An hour later, the food un-eaten on the tray.
Seeing her there, helpless,
no longer able to fulfil our special ritual,
she at the window
waving till out of sight…
only enhances the pain.
Leaning over to kiss pure white hair
on the head of a valiant soul
who has weathered ninety one winters.
The pathos
is of the eviscerating kind.
That precious frame, slight now.
Feeling her warm scalp under my lips
as I hold her hand…
Times stands still.
So what is life and death?
What is hello and goodbye?
Only a greeting or farewell
from one place to another.
We understand that
and so we treasure it
but still we struggle…
There is no place that love does not inhabit
there is no state that comfort cannot be found.
Even in the exchanges of the most futile kind,
love is there and will fill the gaps.
When the heart is over-burdened and heavy
with unspoken emotion,
In all things, and in the eyes
love will find a way.
Nevertheless, I drive away
Crumpled.
Such a sad situation so brilliantly conveyed without even a hint of self pity. I’m sure, like Pommer, a lot of people in this situation will find great comfort in your poem .
Much appreciated Tony. 🙂
We all have our difficulties. So, there is much to be shared in both humour and empathy. That is what makes this online community (to me at least) so precious and valuable.
Sharing is soul enriching and what makes the world spin.
Alison x
Sad and beautiful all rolled into one, Alison. It so reminds me of when I leave my mother in her care home. I visit weekly. so am fully involved in her care. It’s got harder of late and she’s started screaming at me to take her home. So emotionally draining. Special poetry as ever. Take care. Mick.
Mick, I cannot even begin to know the terrible pain of your mother screaming to get home. I guess you have to have some insight into the pain and misplaced guilt involved. We cannot ‘make it better’ nor turn back time….but we are all children inside who need reassurance. Sadly I know several on here had less than a positive relationship with their mothers, 🙁 That cannot be denied, nor should it. I feel for them deeply. Some people are plain nasty and should maybe never have been mothers. I only wish I lived nearer my own so I could… Read more »
A poem which is moving without being gushingly sentimental. Just the right amount of understatement, and a quietly effective ending.
Thank you so much for reading it so deeply.
I feel sometimes that the more overwhelming the emotions…the more we have to apply the floodgates to contain them.
Alison x
Exactly right, another of those situations where “less is more”. But that restraint leads to powerful poetry.
A beautiful write that proves love is immortal. You honour her with an unforgettable pen that writes wonderful poetry that brings light to a situation that we will all face. I only hope I have someone there in my hour of need.
Aww bless you Cooky. I feel the same. I don’t think today’s generation have the same level of caring. Not that they don’t care…more they have been living in a world that has given them a sense of entitlement.
That has not been a blessing, more a curse, but I will say no more. 😉
Thanks for reading.
Alison x