This ward was for those who waited to die,
among them my mother,
Kate Pool nee Hayward.
On her wristband a date:
28 9 08,
details that separated her
from those i'd never known,
those I would never know,
her uniqueness confirmed.
Amongst those unknowns she lay,
her wonderful miraculous life
part of a circle of depleted energy hard used
giving service and the gift of life
to those she loved.
Hi Ray - we all have our way to follow and this is in the personal sense not always easy. I was with my mother
every day in the last week of her life except for the day
she passed when I drove the 200 miles return journey to
arrive just too late. It was some consolation that my two
(local) sisters were on hand at the time. My previous
comment was aimed at the general sense of our duty to
leave something for others to follow and be inspired by.
Cheers.
Thanks for that comment Col. That is indeed a coincidence. I do hope things work out for you ok. Your absence was noted; Thanks for the compliment.
Ray
<Deleted User> (13762)
Tue 10th Apr 2018 17:10
funny you should post this Ray (I'm still in catch up mode) as I was wearing one of those wristbands on Fri/Sat. However they let me go home - mainly to give service to the good people on WoL (whether they like it or not lol). Still feeling a bit of that depleted energy myself. Onwards but not upwards (yet) hopefully. Neat poem sir and justifiably well received. All the best. Col.
Just what I thought Anya, seems so dispassionate. THanks.
Thanks Rachel, as always, it is the little details that imprint themselves often. It's always hard to know how to be supportive as in your case.
David, you have spotted the whole tone of the piece as I had designed; in fact I edited it again. Our parents should be valued notwithstanding Larkin's poem on the subject. Much appreciated support.
You have my sympathy Brian, thanks mate.
On a serious note Suki, I feel two things here. One is that we lose a part of ourselves as it were , and also that that heals over in time hopefully. We shared wonderful moments towards the end - a real equality of mind if that makes sense. I feel her often in a strong bond.
Mark, to be perfectly honest that resume sounds slightly mechanical - a sort of text book solution, It does sound like we have a duty as you rightly say though in a wider context. My mum used to say of my brother(who is a Christian) that he only came to see her as a duty. I'm sure you mean it in the best possible spirit, so thank you for taking the trouble.
Thanks Hannah, you're right there was a feeling of hurt of course, but also as she was 96 it felt natural. I'm glad you put it so eloquently.
That is it in a nutshell, John. Memory on a personal level can be related to maybe 4 generations; beyond that lost in the current. We shouldn't forget echoes of the past but that's another tale! Glad it struck a chord. Thanks.
Also thanks for the likes: Frances, Nicola, Rachel, and Charlotte. A good cross section of ladies and gents to show this affects us all.
Love to all
Simple epitaph to one person and to all of us.
My mind drifted to our universal mortality and then to the mortality of our memory, lasting just a generation or two.
Nice work, Ray.
<Deleted User> (18118)
Sun 8th Apr 2018 16:16
A poem of controlled hurt and beautiful sincerity, showing us how each person is unique and important to those who knew her and therefore, to the world too.
Hannah
It is our duty in this life to make something of it to leave -
in whatever shape or form - to those who follow, be it
tangible or intangible, so that the continuity of human existence and achievement is ensured.
I wonder whether our afterlife is actually the legacy we leave behind ~ the ripple effect. As long as we remember, the essence of that person remains..
A beautiful and affecting poem Ray. Just perfect.
Suki
<Deleted User> (18980)
Sun 8th Apr 2018 10:31
Hi Ray my own mother passed away last November so this resonates acutely with me.
elPintor
Sun 8th Apr 2018 01:29
Such grief and also remembrance...
Two of my aunts died on the same day just a few days ago and I am at a loss for words to give to the loved ones who will suffer most from their passing.
For me, it is a timely piece, and touching.
Rachel x
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raypool
Wed 11th Apr 2018 17:40
Thanks Mark for your story - a very upsetting experience i'm sure; it happens to many through no fault of their own. I had the advantage of being on hand. I know we share common ground on feelings of course; just a spontaneous thing on my part. Comments can often run their own path! Appreciate your trouble.
Cheers Ray.