Blessings Dear Late Mum And Dad

Cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Wed, 27 Oct 2021
  • 2462 reads
16 comments
 

Mum was a lady who once sang at her daily

chores, when all was well, an opera would sail

from her sweet lips, voice lost in an epic romance,

while roses bloomed in her garden and starry eyes

held onto pleasures – until sadness took the helm

she was unable to hold back those waves of tears.

 

Heavy was her burden as old age took form,

even when ocean of life was calm, imagined

fears would fade...then reappear unexpectedly

to entice an already unsteady trust. It must have

been hard confronting those demons that brought

humiliation; and in the end was mum's demise.

 

They said she had ravings of dementia that would

bubble over in her mind, but I saw a lady who was

lost by ravages of time with no release, cornered by

floods of misunderstanding.

 

When you reach out to be unshackled, but nobody

comes, chains become heavy: the clanking never

seems to end. So she closed petals on her blooms,

wished spirit to fly. All I wish is that you went through

tunnel of bright light to a place of eternal happiness.

 

 

***

 

 

Thinking about you dad at this time of Samhain,

how you taught me to be independent, face all

obstacles full on, and not to forget where I came

from. How those words resonate with me today.

 

Remembering as I stood motionless at your

bedside on that early morning, unable to fully

comprehend you final end. “He'll last another

night,” they said...where hands once warm

trembled then went cold as ice at dawn's first light.

 

Now as eve of Halloween approaches with waning

of crescent moon, your flame loiters mellow upon

fading impressions. Once recalling those restful

eyes sleeping, until solemn calling of the end

brought you relief. I imagined those winding

personal visions when you died and lost reality.

 

It's been many years since your passing, but late at

night I do wonder if somewhere up in the darkness

of space you are there as part of the universe, a star

maybe now bright, or flying across galaxies on your

last personal journey, becoming one with the heavens.

 

 

 

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Poems
Spiritual
Biography
Love

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

phew, difficult, but a journey we all make. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I don't think I'll ever forget, it just gets a little easier over the years to accept.

Thanks for reading and your thoughts.

Jenny..

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

A touching tribute, Jenny. I don't think it gets any tougher than losing a parent(s). I love that last paragraph/stanza, in particular. Paul x

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

It's been quite a few years since I wrote a homage to mum and dad, so thought I would take this opportunity as it's Samhain coming up. Mum was quite spiritual, where as dad was more grounded, a good combination really.

Thank you for your continual support, it means a lot.

Jenny. x

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

It's a beauiful tribute to your parents, and shows how much they meant to you and how you haven't forgotten them.

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

mum and dad were very special and before dad became ill, we spent a wonderful last Christmas together, which I will never forget.

Glad you thought my effort at writing these poems was a good tribute, it puts my thoughts in perspective.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What more wonderful way to remember than these two pen portraits - they're beautifully drawn Jenny - well done.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Many thanks insert, you've made my day, not only with the fact I could draw a portrait in words, but those cherries are just so appreciated.

Thank you again.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

For years I worked with elderly people and seeing them caught by dementia used to break my heart. Your words describing your Mum's situation have brought back so many memories of complete strangers who I came to love before slowly but ultimately losing them. Lovely memories tinged with sadness. It's such a hurtful illness, especially for those who can only watch and hope. And of course people pass for other reasons which are also heartbreaking. 

Writing a poem about a loved one is the sweetest thing. These tributes to your parents are particularly so.

Good on you Jenny.

Good on you Jenny.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I remember my mum had so many hobbies, what with her garden roses that she tended, and singing opera which she so loved. There was a time also where she could knit for England and was never happier than when she was attached to knitting needles and a ball of wool.

Mum was always very spiritual too and studied the belief of our lives being ruled by the stars and planets, that their connection with us was more than just made up fantasy. I too had this in common with her, we would have many conversations about our ruling planets. But all of a sudden she just lost interest in everything, and said none of it mattered anymore, that nobody listened to her anyway. Of course I was living my own life by then, quite a distance away, so when she retired she had nobody to listen to her. 

I'm afraid of dementia creeping up on me and my partner,  as I have no idea of what it means to have it. I do suffer with anxiety like mum, which I never did when younger, not even five years ago, just hope that's not the beginning of this awful disease.

It must be very hard to watch the elderly go through this, and I can understand how you must have found it so hard to see those people you became fond of change in personality.

I'm grateful to you for reading and sharing your experience and thoughts.

Many thanks.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is lovely, Jenny. It struck a real chord with me - in a few days it will be the anniversary of when I lost my dad, and you capture so well how those moments stay with us, happy and sad. Until my parents died, I was a bit sceptical of people saying 'there isn't a day goes by when I don't think of him or her', but it's absolutely true. I found a lot of joy and comfort in your poem. Thank you.

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

you know it warms my heart to know that you get some comfort from this piece of writing. Just knowing others understand brings great solace.

I'm very grateful to you for reading and letting me know your own reflective memories are significant...like you say; the good and the sad.

Many thanks. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

These are so full of light,  your parents sound so vivid and warm. I think they must have been special people to have you as a daughter, and now you mirror their light back out into the world with your writing.

I am like you, afraid of getting dementia as my Dad did. I don't know if this is relevant at all, but I don't feel someone who can write with such richness of vocabulary, sensitivity and innovation as you  can have a speck of dementia. Dementia is a sign of dimminishment, not the inspiring vitality of your writing

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

thank you so much for your reassuring words, that's very encouraging to know. I suppose it's because I'm becoming very much like my mum the older I get and know what she went through. But our situations are very different, so hopefully I'll be alright.

I appreciate you stopping by to read and thank you again for the kind words,

Blessings at Samhain.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I think so? If part of what your Mum suffered from was a feeling of isolation and not being able to communicate with anyone how she felt, then you are in a much much better place! You definitely matter to lots of people, including me, don't know what I would do without your poems to cheer me up

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

what a lovely kind thing to say. Your words are more than treasured. smiley

I only wish that mum lived in a time of computers, being able to speak with like minded people, where she could go to a website that might have been of some help for her.

I honestly don't know where I'd be without abc tales, it's like a life line being able to share writing with people like your kind self who care.

Thank you for coming back and sharing your thoughts, that have put a smile on my face. smiley

You take care.

Jenny. x