“Come in, take a seat, Mrs. Jones.
Before I go on, let me say
how very sorry I am...
No – you didn’t kill him, Mrs. Jones –
only gave permission his life-support
machine be switched off.
Yes indeed, it is a crying shame we can’t
put the clock back and no –
there wasn’t anything anyone
could have done.
You’re not responsible, Mrs. Jones,
and just remember, your husband
was a good age. Now don’t take on so...
‘Bereavement counselling’, that’s what
this is called. Spurring you along
that long, long road on what we term,
‘The Grief Cycle’.
Mrs. Jones, I know you’re way past
riding a bike; that wasn’t quite the thing
to which I referred...
and no, you don’t have blood on your hands,
nor the doctor who ‘pulled the plug’,
and, yes, point taken, I do accept
there is never a good age for one to die.
You can’t continue living in the past, though;
blaming yourself, or more importantly,
implicating others.
Time to move on now, Mrs. Jones;
to cross the i’s and dot the t’s...
and yes, you’re right...all the talking
in the world won’t keep you warm
on a winter’s night.”
Comments
maggyvaneijk | April 29, 2010 - 20:44
this is brilliantly written, I love the narrative perspective. My heart aches for Mrs. Jones
Silver Spun Sand | April 29, 2010 - 20:45
Wow! Thanks, so very much, maggy. More than appreciated;-)
Tina
Kahdai | April 29, 2010 - 20:53
She'll be a toughy for some councillor, Good on her! :) A lovely & very thoughtful poem Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | April 29, 2010 - 21:10
Thanks Kahdai, for reading and for your thoughts;-)
Tina xxx
staticshakedown | April 29, 2010 - 21:39
Very good poem, I'm drawn in by the first two stanzas and then the ending is the clincher.
Silver Spun Sand | April 29, 2010 - 22:41
My sincere thanks for your helpful and more than encouraging comments.
Tina
hilary west | April 30, 2010 - 10:42
Nice flow and it's fun !
Silver Spun Sand | April 30, 2010 - 10:50
Thank you so much, hilary. Pleased you enjoyed;-)
Tina
kheldar | May 1, 2010 - 14:14
You always make sad things enjoyable to read, a smile tinged with a tear.
great work (but when isn't it?)
david xx :--)
Silver Spun Sand | May 1, 2010 - 16:56
Thank you, kheldar.
I always feel that when a poem is dear to one's heart it almost writes itself.
This poem is about a dear friend.
Your comments, as always, more than treasured.
Tina xx;-)
Kahdai | May 1, 2010 - 20:04
Yes I find that is true aswell! :)
Silver Spun Sand | May 1, 2010 - 20:49
Thought you might, Kahdai;-)
Tina xx
MistakenMagic | May 2, 2010 - 18:49
Sorry I'm so late commenting on this, Tina! I love the idea of speech and a conversation conveyed in the poem. Such a beautiful yet saddening tale of grief. Well done on the very well-deserved cherry ;)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | May 2, 2010 - 20:54
Magic - it amazes me you even have time to log onto ABC - let alone comment.
I thank you, so very much for that and, of course, for your words. Hope revision, etc. is going well. Thinking of you;-)
Tina xxx
Beeme | May 4, 2010 - 15:35
I'm sorry I am so late commenting Tina. I can only echo the above comments. I love the way the emotions of the speaker are mixed with the advise from the counsellor, it works very effectively in my opinion. This was heart rendering and extremely beautiful.
Beeme xx
Silver Spun Sand | May 4, 2010 - 17:19
My thanks to you Beeme. Your words mean much;-)
Tina xx