Goodbye My Darling
Death seemed not so bad on that final midnight
September second. “Not so bad for whom?”
he’d say if he could. Possibly not so bad
for either of them. Their union dissolved
as though neither were really in that room.
Not she. Not him. Not the way they’d been.
Their slowly speeding departure started with the treatments.
A day after the second chemo, he was kneeling by the toilet
on one big knee, too sick to pull himself up.
His head was bent in defeated disbelief
and her only help came as small shoulder
for a boost, her soft voice wimp reassurance,
the big truth embracing them.
Born in 1945, Kathryn Collins is a native New Yorker now living in Connecticut whose works have been described as “a gentle sort of poetry” by the editor of her first book No Need for Breadcrumbs, published by BeWrite Books, 2004. Her work has also appeared in numerous anthologies. Inspired by her beloved grandmother, she developed a great love of poetry at an early age and has been writing for 20 years.
Sad to read, but so heartwarming at the same time. I look forward to reading more of your work...
ReplyDeleteRhoda Galgiani
Thank you Rhoda. I'm happy to be in such fine company.
DeleteKathy
Dear Kathy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your poem with Whispers and for commenting on others' poetry too. It's caring people like you that will make this site the encouraging place I would like it to be. Thanks again!
Karen
Thank you Andrea Dietrich for the following comment--
ReplyDeleteFor Kathryn: I think you are an amazing poet and this is just one of the many eloquently and sensitively expressed poems of yours I have read since I met you. You are someone who truly
writes from the heart!
Kathryn, very nicely written. I like the objectiveness of this poem. It tells the story well.
ReplyDeleteSuch a moving poem which captures the devotion you shared and also the helplessness felt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing about such a sad life event.
SuZ
Kathryn, The pain both of you were feeling is so evident, as well as that terrible feeling that you can't change things. Beautifully written with a master's hand. I was deeply touched.
ReplyDeleteMahalo for sharing, Connie
Thank you, John W. (Bill) Williams, for the following comment:
ReplyDeleteVery moving insight. Touched my heart. It is never easy to give up a loved one. But we can always be thankful that God is there to help us through these shadowy times. Thanks for your comments on my work!
Beautiful in its life truth. A real moment captured that too many can relate to, but also can gain comfort from, as they need to know others have felt and known what it is like, so they feel less alone.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the write Kathy
Ing
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteSad & sensitive... hard reading to the end... but couldn't stop...