GONE

(Mother-in-law died over a week ago, then services, family, grief kept me away from blogging.  She always said I was her daughter and she mothered me so lovingly.  I'll miss her.)

GONE

Death - so unattractive. 

Agonizing, gripping, groans, grimaces,

birth on the flip side, 

life squeezing through its exit of pain.

I watched helplessly, 

my empathy as shallow as her breath.

There's no way to feel the road not yet travelled.  

Instead, fear painted my vigil. 

It's colors invisibly dripping

on the darkness of my sorrow.

Then that final exhalation.

Release, relief. 

Repeat!  When it's another's turn.

And life goes on.

***

I won't write poetic specifics.

These words are simple marks

To symbolize my grieving thoughts.

I saw her, knew her 

giving, loving, laughing, suffering, crying, being, 

living the unique course of her humanity.

Though memorial details would give a glimpse

of who she was,

for now,

"I loved her." 

These words must suffice.


(For Poets United.)