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.)

17 comments:

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

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  2. 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..:)

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

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

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  4. Poignant ..and so difficult.

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

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

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

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  8. 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!!!!!

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  9. 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!

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

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

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

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