On the Passing of my Mother

Rocky Lagou

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 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! πŸ’–
  • Category: Reflection
  • Views: 43
  • Users favorite of this poem: spilleronsheet, Christina8, FallenAngel1πŸ•Š, Paul Bell
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Comments +

Comments10

  • ProfessionalPaperDigester

    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.

    • Rocky Lagou

      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! πŸŒŸπŸ’–

    • spilleronsheet

      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
      Don’t stop

      • Rocky Lagou

        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! πŸŒŸπŸ’–

      • Jane Clemons

        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.....

        • Rocky Lagou

          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! πŸ’–πŸŒŸ

          • Jane Clemons

            Your mother was truly a blessed woman to have a son with so much love and admiration for her ! Take care of yourself !

          • orchidee

            A sensitive write Rocky.

            • Rocky Lagou

              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! πŸ’–

            • Christina8

              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!

              • Rocky Lagou

                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! πŸ’–βœ¨

                • Christina8

                  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!

                • FallenAngel1πŸ•Š

                  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.πŸ»πŸ€—πŸŒžπŸ•Š

                  • Rocky Lagou

                    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! πŸ’–πŸ»βœ¨

                  • Rozina

                    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.

                    • Rocky Lagou

                      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! πŸ’–πŸŒŸ

                    • Paul Bell

                      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.

                      • Rocky Lagou

                        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! πŸ’–

                      • junia

                        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.

                        • Rocky Lagou

                          Thanks so much Junia! I'm delighted to see your comments! Also there's nothing wrong with sharing your opinions, so your good πŸ€— 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! πŸ’–βœ¨

                        • littlegreenbag

                          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! ❀

                          • Rocky Lagou

                            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! πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–



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