The Struggle
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Sun and Spider Web
Ed Schipul
The frailty of life
skidded by me today,
a reminder.
Death's sticky note
pasted on your forehead
a "to-do" note
that you undid.
And later, watching you
I was reminded of mom
and how she struggled
to breathe in.
And just for a moment,
as you had had trouble breathing,
I saw the same flare of fear
bright and strong,
it's hold like
an eclipse of the sun.
I held your hand
as the nurse
eased your breath
back into your body
and tried
not to let you see the fear
blooming inside me.
Later, as I left for the day
to return to the sun-
to my life,
I breathed in the air
tasting of trees,
and kissed the dew
of morning
as it stole into my shoes
from the wet grass.
copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2013
Audrey that is beautiful hopeful and etched with sorrow
ReplyDeleteagain beautiful
Thank you moondustwriter!
DeleteGosh..made me feel that I gotta move on...no matter what!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful message via this spider.
Thank you Ruchira!
DeleteOh, Audrey. This is so full of love and fear, and did I say love? I also need to use the word again and say I love this. You tightened my throat with this one, and at the same time made me smile with the post-it note.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan! This was my brother's surgery this past week
Deletewow..this got to me..all the memories of my mom dying in hospice...heartbreak. A moving poem filled with fear and love. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think I felt both of those emotions this week!
DeleteThis brought back such sad memories for me as well. You do this to me through your poetry so often ... send me back to places in my memory and the feelings rush back as if I were there again.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece!
I am hoping that is a good thing Susan--Thank you!
DeleteThe 'sticky note' is a stroke of brilliance. I got chills as I felt the gripping fear myself. Loved your ending so much as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer--best to you!!
DeleteSuch a tender, emotional piece. It reminded me of the love and fear I felt when my father was losing his battle with cancer.
ReplyDeleteLisa--thank you!!!
DeleteOh, Audrey, this is so very touching. It sounds like a difficult time. Being afraid but not letting the other person feel the fear. So hard. It sounds like this is someone close to you, and it is good that you are there to hold the hand.
ReplyDeleteThis was my brother--and he is doing well--but the surgery was difficult
Deletea "to-do" note
ReplyDeletethat you undid...ha ...i like the do undid plays well together...
as amusing as i found that...the pushing of the breath back in and holding the hand really pinged my heart...
i am glad your brother is doing well...
Thanks Brian!
DeleteA powerful message, Audrey. I love the artwork on this site and of course your poetry leaves me with thoughts that need to be attended to.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good thing I hope
DeleteYour poem gave me shivers, Audrey. So much emotion and talk about life and breath - your words make me want to seize the moment xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and poignant. It sounds like this is truly from the heart and that your words come from hard-won experience. My heart goes out to you. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYour poem reminds me of how precious life is. It rings true of the fear of loosing a loved one. Each breath the elixir of life.
ReplyDeleteOh this made me tear up. Incredibly bitter sweet.
ReplyDeleteThe scenes flowed smoothly in your words ... well done !!!
ReplyDeleteHope and fear all entertwined, hope prevails...
ReplyDelete