He watches her hips
as her hands place the corms
for the crocuses in the soil
The grief of her cancer
is massive within him
though he affects stillness
Her marrow has turned
against her, only seen
through the window of medicine
They’ve kept it secret
from the children, their flowers,
and perhaps that is wrong
When the crocuses bloom,
the clatter of colors
will grieve him, but he’ll smile
/ / /
This poem was written in response to Wordle 57 at The Sunday Whirl.
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Good Lord Richard, this is beautiful–sad and very moving, and love the last stanza, when grief will bloom.
Susan, thank you so much. I truly appreciate your visits and your comments. I am going to add your blog to my blogroll, as a reminder to read your poems more often.
Richard
Wow, thanks so much!
Amazing how similar our stories. This has a beautiful grace and flow.
Paula, thank you. It is amazing. Thank you for the kind words about grace and flow.
Richard
We do hold grief in massive stillness. I had such a hard time with the word massive. You have written with a gentle hand about the bittersweet things in life.
Teri, thank you. Glad you thought this was gentle; it was hard to write – glad that gentleness came through along with the bittersweet.
Richard
Thank you Richard. This is a sensitive and terribly gentle knowing of grief. Sad, haunting, yes, but beautiful none the less.
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
Elizabeth, thank you. I appreciate your thoughtful words. I like poems that are beautiful despite their sadness; glad this one qualifies.
Richard
Very sad, bitter sweet but, lovely. Deeply moving.
Daydreamertoo, thank you. Glad that it is more than just bittersweet.
Richard
Haunting. I think the line about not sharing. But also the respect to honor individual wishes. I have an extended family member in surgery today. So very thankful for the skilled ‘medicine’ that will allow continuance.
Thank you for your visits, comments and kind words.
Jules, thank you for your thoughtful reply. That was a difficult stance to take in this poem, and one I personally disagree with, though I agree with you about respecting.
I hope the surgery went well. I, too, am thankful for what medicine can do. Life is precious.
Richard
Thank you, yes the surgery went well and things are looking very good. Our family member is already home and looking forward to a swift and easy healing.
Kind sir…was it you who mentioned a small verse poetic form called a caloon…I perhaps have spelled the word wrong as it is not coming up in the online dictionary…
With some help I found the poetic Lune form. The two versions The first by Robert Kelly 5/3/5 syllables and the
Jack Collom 3/5/3 words – Thanks.
Jules, glad to hear your family member is doing well. And that you found the poetic form you were looking for. Glad to be of some help.
Richard
I couldn’t decide which lune to use, so my stones (small observances this month) will be pairs…one of each. Also at the blogspot site I did a series of Kelly (Whirl 59 – not up just yet but very soon) and Collom (Monday Melting 19) lunes. Margo directed me to the ‘write’ spot. Thanks again.