THE VIEW BEYOND MY SISTER'S ROOM
My body stretching like a tear
along the paper*Static
that second night
of mourning
My hands caught air
of your fragrance,
bamboo, eucalyptus,
aloe vera
My mom dragged her feet
in slow circles
while my brother silently grieved -
he's a wounded sparrow -
Outside the window,
the bird's nest, a music of hungry
cries & squeals
the busy cars honking
thirsty for summer rain
The wind turned,
dripping of sun's tears-
the sky, blue-matted
blanket, times
another season
knitted new
canvas, bright orange
My eldest placed his new born
child into my arms
He, feather-light
Weighs our universe
They brought him and autumn
rushed in, tossed its cape of starlings,
tattered the frost-spackled field.**
* First lines, from Louise Gluck, The Egg
**Ending lines, from The Corn Baby by Mark Wunderlich
Sherry: This poem goes straight to my heart, Grace. The grief, your poor mother pacing in circles, then the new baby placed in your arms, weighing your universe.
Grace: I wrote this poem due to two recent events in my life - the death of my sister last April, and the birth of my first grandchild, a boy, last May. I used the prompt of Amaya (here - MTB — Bridging the Gap) to write my poem. I used two quotes, one for the opening, and another for the ending, building my own lines in the middle.
I thought about the cycle of life, just like mother nature with her seasonal changes. On one hand, I was sad to see her going ahead of us (my mom is still alive), yet on the other hand, I am filled with hope with the birth of my first grandchild.
Sherry: It often happens this way, one soul leaving as another arrives. I am so very sorry for your loss, Grace. And so happy for you that your new grandchild is here to fasten your family's hopes upon. Thank you so much for sharing this very personal passage with us.
Wasn't this beautiful and moving, my friends? Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!
Wow... yes this was an extremely touching poem. The choice of the two lines were perfect and the poem is a seamless piece of art. The death and the birth paired together perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIt shows how much better poetry becomes when we fill it with our own emotions.
Thank you Bjorn! I appreciate your support and comments.
DeleteI remember this poem well and I have read it again with new eyes. Grace was so supportive when my mother passed away and then she lost her sister. We have also both recently enjoyed new grandsons so, when she posted this poem on Open Link Night, I had to comment on the lines:
ReplyDelete'My hands caught air
of your fragrance';
'dripping of sun's tears-
the sky, blue-matted
blanket...'
and
'My eldest placed his new born
child into my arms
He, feather-light
Weighs our universe'.
Thank you so much Grace and Sherry for sharing it again.
Death and new life is weaving us all in the same universe. Its amazing how our journeys, though we are world aparts, are the same. Thank you Kim for your comments.
DeleteI experienced the same thing recently in my family, with the death of a senior, then, mere days later, the birth of a grandson who would bear his name. I think life sends these new souls to add hope and joy to families who are grieving. Thank you, Grace, for saying this so perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing story to share as well Sherry. I love how the timing works to heal us all. I also have to share that my dad died 7 months earlier, so this death of my sister came as a surprise to us all. We expected her to recover from her hospital surgery, instead she got complications and before we knew it, her body was failing her. Her death shook us all she was still young and had so much potential. But we all move on - with the birth of my grandson giving us joy and laughter. Thanks so much for the feature.
DeleteSo hard, to lose them both. And terrible to lose your sister, so young. It must have been such a shock. I am so sorry.
DeleteIt stopped me--breathe hands almost heart--for a minute, longer. So wondrous, capturing nature and all in the transition of life and death.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Susan.
Deletesuch a moving poem.the words delicately chosen..the message solid as rock
ReplyDeleteThank you Jae Rose.
Deletethere is sublime beauty in the universe - the unfolding - our incomprehension, in the moments of deepest sorrow, and yet life renews itself, often so miraculously, even as we haven't cried out our last lament for the pain -
ReplyDeletethis is really a wonderful, heartfelt and heart-stopping poem - thank you both Sherry, for the feature, and to Grace, for sharing it here - and for the sources of inspiration, across the platforms and global poetic community, for offering the support and generosity of words and ideas shared.
THank you for the wonderful comments. Yes, life unfolds everyday and nature reminds us of this, in every way.
DeleteA beautiful, beautiful piece … really outstanding … wonderfully constructed with exquisite word-weaving, throughout. The theme speaks to that which is at the essence of the human heart: love … loss … life … death … enduring. An important and impactful work. THIS IS POETRY at it's zenith. Thank you for this, Sherry and Grace!
ReplyDeleteThank you Wendy for your lovely comments. Really appreciate your support.
DeleteMy eldest placed his new born
ReplyDeletechild into my arms
He, feather-light
Weighs our universe
Very good close Grace. A memorable moment of birth to balance the sadness of demise earlier on!
Hank
Thank you kindly Hank. I now know the joys of being grandparents.
DeleteGrace is a marvellous poet whom I've long admired – and this is a marvellous poem. I am intrigued by the bridge between two quotes idea! Grace, I think you have handled it very beautifully, and the quotes are perfectly chosen. I wish you solace for the loss of your sister, and much joy in the new grandson.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rosemary. Our grandson is a bundle of joy at 2 months now.
DeleteThank you, friends. And thank you, Grace, for sharing these deeply moving moments with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry for giving me room to breathe and share this time with all of you here.
DeleteSo sorry for your loss Grace. Love this poem captivating sorrow and joy in the lines. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sumana. This is actually the second death in our family as my dad died 7 months earlier. We are coping with heavy hearts.
DeleteOh Grace, such huge losses for all of you. I think of your mother, circling her sorrow. Life can be so hard.
DeleteSherry--Grace is a wonderful choice...I have long admired her work. I love seeing it here. -Steve King
ReplyDeleteThank you Steve!
DeleteThank you kindly Sherry and Poets United for the feature of my poem. You give encouragement and support to all the poets here. More power to you and the team!
ReplyDeleteWe have such a fountain of talent to draw from, it sure makes the job easy. Thank you, Grace.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful, Grace. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful poem...it's always a pleasure to read her...!
ReplyDeletebeautifully and lovingly crafted. i liked how the poem began and ended with lines from the poems of other poets.
ReplyDeletei had to come back and re-read it again.
Thank you, Grace.
Grace, what a beautiful, heartfelt poem....you have touched my very soul with your deeply moving words....thank you! And thank you Sherry!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this heartbreak, and new hope with us, Grace. This is written so well, and the addition of the borrowed lines fit perfectly. Thanks once again to you, Sherry.
ReplyDelete