Please Don’t Forget Me!
By Leokadia Durmaj
In an old chair a man sits alone
Tears have filled his eyes,
Looking at the pictures on his dresser
Remembering all the years
That have passed him by.
His hands are worn and wrinkled
From years of hard work,
Alone he sits and waits
Hoping someone will remember,
To visit him before he leaves this world.
Once he was loved and cared for
By the woman he called his wife,
Now the Angels in heaven protect her,
As she waits for him to join her
With sadness in her eyes.
For she sees the loneliness he feels
And how his heart aches for her,
His frail body can hardly move around~
As he takes her picture from his dresser
And holds it close to his heart.
A teardrop from heaven falls,
As he cradles it in his hands
Just like a precious gift of art.
A smile forms upon his lips,
As he kisses the teardrop away.
An Angel appears, it is time to go ~
Your wife is waiting for you
Do not be afraid!
With wings outstretched
He reaches up.
The man’s body is limp now
His spirit is with his beloved,
No longer sad and lonely
But rejoicing in the heavens above
In the arms of his one true love.
_______________
From the editor--It is an honor to announce that Leokadia Durmaj is July’s Poet of the Month. Lee is a talented writer who has been published in a variety of venues. Readers at Whispers relate to her heartfelt poetry. Lee has been an encouraging voice at our online journal. She regularly leaves thoughtful comments which others appreciate. Lee has collaborated with other writers on several poems that have been featured at Whispers. It is a pleasure to present Lee with this honor!
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Thoughts on “Please Don’t Forget Me!”--The emotion flows through Lee’s poem in a heartfelt way. I could feel the loneliness of the main character, wishing someone would have remembered to visit him to bring a little joy to his days. It speaks to the skill of this writer’s ability to be able to journey with her as story unfolds. I don’t want to give away the ending. This is a poem you will enjoy.
_______________
Congratulations and thank you Lee! I appreciate all you do and have done for Whispers.
Sincerely,
Karen O’Leary, Editor
Hi Lee, Congratulations on being selected Poet of the Month. A well-deserved tribute! Your poem is heartwarming, especially to me, recollecting the 3 years I spent visiting my precious mom in a nursing facility. She had been very sick, but recovered enough to enjoy my visits and adapted well. There were many sad faces otherwise! Few had visitors. A simple smile or kind word lit up their eyes sitting around in wheelchairs, confined & lonely. Fortunately this place had many activities for the shut-ins, but it was a blessing to me to be able to bring a little cheer to so many as I walked down the corridor to my mom's room. They loved seeing a familiar face. I gained so much from that experience. Mom went home to be with the Lord in 2011. Thank you for sharing your well written piece. A beautiful poem! PS...I met my husband there, God's divine appt. His mom was also a resident. We were both widowed, had a whirlwind romance, & have been married now almost 5 yrs. Blessings to you, Chris~
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine for sharing your story with me. It is indeed sad for many who have no one to visit and family and friends have passed away. When I was working at the school we use to arrange for the primary students to visit nursing homes around the area. It was amazing to see how wonderful the time was spent, each learning a little about there life. The children could not wait to visit again. Laughter and smiles, sharing love, a most precious gift.
DeleteI do apologize for taking so long to answer each comment but I had heart surgery. Still recovering, Take care, blessings sent with love, Lee
Praying for your restoration & good health Lee...God bless!
DeleteThank you Christine for your prayers, God bless you....... Leokadia
DeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteYour poem is so beautiful. Congratulations on your being chosen poet of the month! Unfortunately I don't have a personal tie-in story like Chris, but I loved this poem anyway.
Your friend,
David Fox
Thank you David for your kind comment, it is much appreciated. Take care always, Lee
DeleteCongratulations, Lee, on being named poet of the month! I enjoyed reading your touching poem. It hits home to me as my father is in an assisted living facility and I try to visit him once or twice a week. Your poem deserves a wide audience!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your lovely comment Marianne, thank you! Take care always, Lee
DeleteDear Lee, your poem touched my heart. My dear friend is now in a nursing home because of dementia. She often thinks I am someone else. My daughter works in a convalescent hospital and brings joy to her patients who have no one, and also to those who do. It is so important to not let them be forgotten, even when they can't remember you. Congratulations on being chosen Poet of the Month for July.An honor you deserve.
ReplyDeleteAloha, Connie
Dear Connie, thank you for your wonderful comment. I cannot believe I missed some people in replying to their comments. One of them was you, so sorry! I was recovering from heart surgery that is my only excuse. I appreciate you stopping by to read my work. Aloha dear friend Lee
DeleteHello. This poem is very poignant for me at the moment; a well written piece indeed. Well done on acheiving your award. Well deserved. Best wishes to you and your future 'writes', Ralph
ReplyDeleteThank you Ralph, your lovely comment is very much appreciated, Take care always, Lee
DeleteCongratulations on receiving poet of thew month. You certainly deserve these honors as your poem here is surely a wonderful piece. It reminds me of when my two aunts were in assisted living and were so lonely themselves, who appreciated those few visits that they got. They brought me joy whenever we were able to go visit them. There were others there that weren't so lucky as to have family or friends to come and visit them. I just hope that they found their peace one day as did my aunts. Your poem was so significant to many people and struck a chord in many peoples lives, thank you for sharing such a grandiose write Lee! What a delightful ending as well...
ReplyDeleteRussell
Thank you Rusty for sharing your lovely story with me. It is hartbreaking to see people all alone after health has declined and there is no one to bring a little joy, a smile, hug and love into their lives. Sometimes people forget that one day they too they will grow frail and have health problems.
DeleteTake care always, Lee
The depth of grace and dignity afforded in this story is both subtle and overwhelming... Fantastic poem!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being this month's featured poet at Whispers, Leokadia.
Thank you so much Michael for your lovely comment. It is very kind of you to say. Take care always, Leokadia
DeleteCongratulations, Leokadia, on being selected Poet of the Month. I like the subject matter and the way you present it. I too have written on the same topic, for it saddens me to see so many lonely people awaiting in silence for someone to visit and keep them company. All the best. // paul
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul! Life is not always an easy road, my heart has always belonged to the elderly and the children. Far too many suffer the consequences of life. Maybe one day will come when human life is valued greater then all else in this world. Take care always, Leokadia
DeleteDear Leokadia,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being selected Poet of the Month! This is such a heartfelt, beautifully written poem. Although it is very sad there is a graceful, dignity in its ending that touches my heart. You are a wonderful writer and I enjoy reading your poetry when I stop in. Thank you for sharing your words with us all and the best to you.
Sandra
Dear Sandra, thank you so much for your beautiful comment. I am sorry for the late reply. I cannot explain what had happened when I was posting replies, it looks like I missed some people. Please forgive me it was not intentional by any means. Blessings sent with love, Lee
Deleteso sad ... this poem
ReplyDeletevery happy you were chosen as poet of the month
Thank you Joan, I appreciate your kind comment, take care always, Leokadia
DeleteCongratulations Lee on being name Poet of the Month on Whispers. A very fitting choice and you honor Whispers and all of us with your wonderful writing. This story poem is very touching and lifelike. Bob
ReplyDeleteThank you my dear friend for your lovely comment, I appreciate all your support always, Lee
Deleteflawless! -Laura M Kaminski (P.S. Congratulations on being named poet of the month -- a well-deserved honor.)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. So kind of you to say. Take care always, Lee
DeleteThank you, Beth Winchcombe, for the following--
ReplyDeleteThis poem is so sad, also very true. For some old folk really are very lonely. It reads as a story, taking one through the old man's thoughts and is very touching.
Thank you Beth for your lovely comment.
DeleteHello Karen, I am sorry it has taken me so long to reply but I had heart surgery. Came home last Friday. Surgery went very well but i had a reaction to a medication. Just trying to regain my strength. You know all too well that medications and I do not mix (smile) Thank you for naming me poet of the month, I feel very honoured. I love Whispers and you my dear friend. God bless you. Lee
Thank you, Aju, for the following--
ReplyDeleteThanks and congratulations for bestowing and receiving the best poetry award.
Aju Mukhopadhyay
Thank you Aju, so sorry for the late reply, recovering from heart surgery. Lee.
DeleteThank you, Robert Hinshaw, for the following--
ReplyDeleteDear Leokadia: Congratulations for the selection of your poem, " Please Don't Forget Me" as the poem of the month. Splendid verse and the recognition is well-deserved. Bob Hinshaw
Thank you Bob, I appreciate your lovely comment. Take care always, Leokadia
DeleteHello Leokadia. Congratulations on being named Poet of the Month. Thank you for sharing your delightful poem. Continued blessings!
ReplyDelete-MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)
I appreciate your wonderful comment Maurice, thank you! Blessings always, Leokadia
DeleteDear poet friends, it may take me awhile to do some reviews on all your poems since i am still recovering from my heart surgery. Thank you I loved reading each of your comments it was so heart warming. Blessings sent with love, Leokadia (Lee)
ReplyDelete