Love

Remembering

I know it is true
that you are gone free, unburdened
by your mind clouding over your spirit, succumbed
to sitting and looking out the window at a view you don’t recognize
hopefully you don’t realize
your sense of humor vanished in a moment
just like your ability to remember simple things
it was clear your strong body didn’t know
how to be now, your mind so still
compared to everyday before
a laundry list of errands or roads to explore

You knew the way
to anywhere, where to find anything in Costco
and best of all you knew how
to make my Grandmother laugh
you didn’t get mad
when she beat you with a better card hand, your friendship
that was easily noticed when you were dancing
or exchanging glances it is clear
it was confusing to you both
to experience your mind letting you down
when you counted on it so solid so firmly sound

Now forgetful unmindful careless slack
distracted absent these are not words I would ever use
to describe the whole you
it is heartbreaking as I’m sure you must have felt too
but now that your life has passed on
now that you are free
from the deepened depths of this disease may you know
we remember you as you were
as we know you wanted to be
and may you rest
in eternal peace now happily remembering

My First Book is now published!

I have such exciting news to share, I have worked with this collection of poems for almost a year and they have finally come together into my first book. My photographs are strung throughout the book as well giving the reader an opportunity to settle into the view before reading on.

I wrote all of these poems during the five month span that my father was struggling through his cancer journey and I was coming to grips with how to say goodbye. I must say that although the overall topic of this book is sad, there is a lot of tender love, joy and discovery within the book as well. It is a book that I am really proud to share. I am looking forward to opening the conversation around grief, fear and loss. I find the more I feel my way through those feelings, stay honest in where I am with them and allow myself to feel both sad and encouraged at the same time I can be there for myself and those who need me most in times of such sorrow and struggle.

Over the next many Friday’s I will share excerpts from my book. I have not shared most of the poems here before and I am really looking forward to doing so. Here is a link to preview the book and learn a little more about it.

Tomorrow’s Tomorrow

She holds his hand they share a lifetime
the sun brightens their smile the moon guides their hearts
swinging and swaying together
with the breeze they ease into the everyday
the routine those expectations hiding
in corners shadows growing with each passing year
but together, they see right through the distractions
mistakes find their way right (more…)