I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

26 September 2015

At the end ...

At the end
I’d have your eyes, your voice
your hands on me
to soothe and reassure –
had I not outlived you.


A Jisei (Japanese death poem) in the form of a tanka –
written for a dVerse prompt. (They can be written as haiku too.)
By -
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17 comments:

  1. Bodhirose26 September 2015 at 13:43

    Oh, so bittersweet, Rosemary...such a loving wish and tribute to a partner gone before. Thanks for joining in with us all.
    Gayle ~

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katie Mia Frederick26 September 2015 at 15:04

    When the end comes slowly
    and never begins when
    suffering is only
    and life never
    ends.. perhaps
    then more people
    will appreciate Death
    as GOD's greaTest
    BlesSinGs.. of LIFe..
    and finAlly jUst
    enJoy
    Now..
    like a cat in sand
    as midday sun
    hugGinG
    grass on
    a Super
    Blood
    Moon
    Night..:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. brudberg26 September 2015 at 15:38

    What a longing in that, to having outlived has to make it lonelier but also less hard parting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade26 September 2015 at 16:25

      Well, I was able to give him what I describe above. :)

      Delete
  4. Anonymous26 September 2015 at 16:33

    Poignant ..and so difficult.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kathy Reed26 September 2015 at 17:37

    Yes, bittersweet...hard to bear..nicely done.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Grace26 September 2015 at 23:03

    That outliving is very hard to bear but it is very sad ~ A moving tanka Rosemary ~

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mary27 September 2015 at 00:34

    I am sure he would have done the same for you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ron Kleiman27 September 2015 at 00:53

    angels
    mourn my death
    none remain

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sherry Blue Sky27 September 2015 at 02:46

    Oh, this has such impact, Rosemary. He was blessed, to have your eyes, voice, and reassuring hands instead. What an impactful jisei this is. The best!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown27 September 2015 at 10:22

    bitter-sweet indeed! We all wish to be there for our loved ones in their moment of need/final moments...but at the same time wish that they could be there for us as well. Lovely take on the prompt!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Victoria Ceretto-Slotto27 September 2015 at 23:32

    Oh, that is something I think about a lot...which of us will go first. Touching moment.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gail30 September 2015 at 07:26

    So sad. I understand. I often touch my husband many times during the night to know he's still there.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Magaly Guerrero13 November 2015 at 00:51

    The last line made me sigh deeply... Death breathes living poetry.

    ReplyDelete

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