This is my breaking point.
Our long anticipation is finally over,
The tears are no longer deliberate
They’ve grown old on our saggy bucket faces
The only one looking up now - is gone.
Silence hugs each one of us
With a firm embrace so eerie yet so soothing
When all other elements are against you,
The only comfort comes from the things not hungry to kill.
There lies an open box,
So long and full of memories
All things fulfilled and left undone
All lie within the longitude of this worldly box -
The vastness is almost unbearable
An enormous ship rolling in the waves of
Shed tears, rolling away from the sphere
Making its way to the pier – which is far beyond reach.
My grandmother
Grief-stricken and in her 80s
Kneels before the sight of her own daughter
On her delicate old knees, she prays this last prayer.
Never,
In a million years,
Would I have thought I would see
My grandma in such a pitiful position.
So, there we were
Long anticipation finally over and HERE.
Dry faces, drought eyes, and the Sorrow that comes
To hunt each heart to shreds, HERE.
With no other way of expression
I stand before my mother
And sing. Sing my heart into 3 intimate pieces,
Taking in all that my eyes can behold, knowing it’ll be the last time.
Mom, you never changed, even now after death.
I see you in your natural hair color
And I know you never liked wigs; you’d always fuss their presence.
But in this Blonde you look more alive than ever
Your brown finery
And the pearls dangling from your ears -
Oh, you knew if you were going to go
You would make it an ornate occasion -
Not to mention the white jeweled necklace
Resting on your chest
With the Cross on the end hugging
Your soft hands atop your heart -
This isn’t the way I expected life to take you,
Nor take me,
But as the service eases its way to a closure
I begin to appreciate every aspect of life -
It was a good fight,
I’m so glad you were my warrior inspiration.
So, I approach your calm face
And kiss you on your upper cheek
The coldness almost took me off guard,
But within that chill,
A spark of fire engulfed me
A transcendence of past, present, future.
I left that day
Emotion overloaded, but
Thick-skinned.
With a rejuvenated sense of existence.
- Author: Rocky Lagou ( Offline)
- Published: February 22nd, 2022 10:07
- Comment from author about the poem: I was uncertain whether to publish this poem today or not, but I think there's no such thing as "the right time." This poem is probably the most personal piece I've written, in which I describe my mother's open-casket funeral service. It was definitely hard to express at the time of writing this, since my mother's passing has affected my life tremendously. But I feel a drive to share my story with the world, and the way that the hard times in my life worked to make me stronger. I hope you enjoy! π
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 43
- Users favorite of this poem: spilleronsheet, Christina8, FallenAngel1π, Paul Bell
Comments10
I haven't dealt with loss myself (not yet anyway) but i can relate some of these feelings to myself, and what I've seen others experience. I cant quite relate, but I can understand and that is what makes a poem "good," if it's effective and how effective it is. I believe this to be quite effective.
Thanks so much for your reply! I really appreciate your kind words. It's also nice to know that this isn't an experience you can relate to; loss is very hard to go through. But it's nice to see that I was able to transfer the emotion in the poem to you! Have a great day! ππ
A very heart wrenching poetry
I know she is physically no more
But she is inside you
Your her reflection
Her desires you carry
Her wishes remain
And cherish those memories she kept with you
I am sure, watching from heaven above she would be so proud of you
Each word you wrote, I could see that sad scene
I could feel the pain building inside
And it is very courageous of you, to pen your saddest emotions
Dear Rocky, your mother is alive in your poetries
Keep penning dear friend
Donβt stop
Wow! My heart just filled with joy after reading your comment! It's so fulfilling to have someone understand my emotion and my message. I'm also thankful for your reminder that my mother is present with me in an immaterial sense. "Your mother is alive in your poetries" really HIT deep. I guess I never thought about it that way but it's so true. She lives on in my words. Thanks so much for your comment and may you have a wonderful day! ππ
This poem is so sensitive, yet intense. There are two phrases that caught my heart: "Silence hugs each one of us", as there is a certain death we experience in our spirit when a loved one loses their physical being. The other term I liked was "My warrior inspiration ". You really shine in the area of sensitivity ! Love, comfort, joy & peace to you.....
Wow Jane! I feel like you took the words straight out of my mouth! When writing this poem that is exactly what I wanted to shine through the poem: sensitivity and intensity. It feels so rewarding to see that you captured that message. I also agree 100% with you. After a loss, "silence" begins to make itself known in our minds and it's an overwhelming sensation. I'm also glad to see that you highlighted the lines "warrior inspiration" as I find that line probably one of the most important in the whole poem. My mom was truly an inspiration for me and although she is gone physically, having memories with her is a driving force that motivates me everyday. Thanks so much for your touching comment! Have a lovely day! ππ
Your mother was truly a blessed woman to have a son with so much love and admiration for her ! Take care of yourself !
A sensitive write Rocky.
Thank you so much Orchidee! I really appreciate your words and it's nice to see that you enjoyed the poem. I hope you have a blessed day! π
This is absolutely heart wrenching and memories from my own mothers funeral came flooding behind tears. My grandmother too stood before her casket. I just want to say you have penned a beautiful memory though sad and I offer my condolences for your loss!
Wow! This was such a touching response Christina. I, too, offer my condolonces. How ironic, that we were able to relate to a funeral service so similarly. I'll never forget my grandma's look of desolation. Being witness to that, AT THE AGE OF 13, was such an overwhelming experience. But I just want to let you know that it's been over 3 years since her passing and that I've had time to recover. Although, of course, I get sad from time to time thinking about her absence, I've learned to be more grateful about the people and things around me now. And overall, I hope that's a message that I was able to transmit to you: Be grateful for every blessing! Thanks so much, I REALLY appreciate your beautiful input. I hope you've had time to move on from your loss as well. Know that she will always be in your heart and your memories. You are loved! Have a wonderful day! πβ¨
Yes I was in my thirties when my mom passed and it was an end to suffering. i take your message to appreciate every blessing to heart!! Thank you!
I had a hard time reading this,as it brought back memories of my moms funeral service. I praise your strength,I could never write such a detailed picture of such a painful memory. The love you have for your mom and grandmother shine through bright and strong here. Nothing short of a beautiful piece of you. Thanks so much for sharing Rocky.π»π€ππ
Your comment is much appreciated! I'm honestly quite amazed to see just how many people can relate to the loss of their maternal figure. It really is an intense predicament to be in and I'm also sorry about your loss. But I'm uplifted to know that we're all in this together. Thanks for your kind words and I'm really happy to see that you enjoyed the poem. Have a beautiful day! ππ»β¨
I am sorry for your loss. My mum passed away 2 years ago. I have so many memories of her too.Thank you for sharing this beautiful personal story with us. All the very best to you.
Thanks very much! My sincere condolences to you. I totally understand the pain that is undergone during mourning but I just want to remind you that your mother is in a safer place now, and she will always live on in your memories and your heart. I'm glad to see that I was able to stir your emotions via the poem and I wish you a wonderful day! ππ
I've always got different views on open caskets. Death at anytime is bad enough, but when it's your own, it's like your world ending.
Hope sharing has helped you.
Yes, sharing this with the world is definitely a breather. Especially seeing everyone's kind comments. Open casket funerals are for sure a burden on the mourner, but it's nice to see them one last time. I'm glad to see you enjoyed the poem and have a great day! π
I am so sorry for your loss! Thank you for sharing, the poem is beautiful. It almost feels wrong to pick lines that I liked best but I think details like "natural hair color" and "kiss you on your upper cheek" are what makes this poem so heartbreakingly captivating.
Thanks so much Junia! I'm delighted to see your comments! Also there's nothing wrong with sharing your opinions, so your good π€ I'm glad to see that the details and descriptors were able to transport you to message of the poem and it's nice to see your appreciation! It's a jumble of emotions that this poem conveys but I hope the main one that you left with is "hope." Although mourning is difficult, my mom loved me and will forever continue in my heart and my words. Thanks once again, have a wonderful day! πβ¨
I got teary-eyed while reading this. Sad to admit but I know exactly how you feel. Losing someone is never easy, especially if that person means a lot to you.
Sending love! β€
It's so touching to hear that I was able to stir your emotions. I strive to create poetry that will resonate with others and I'm delighted to see that you felt the sentimentality of the piece. I hope you feel uplifted by my final message in the poem: that through loss and through grief, despite being overburdening, can materialize hope and a "rejuvenated sense of existence." Lots of love right back to you! πππ
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