Happy Birthday
good evening
the trees are
rustling
a canopy above me
a waxy, flickering
filter of light
and he forgot
your toast
and I often wonder
of the sound of your voice
and the lick of your tone
because somehow I feel like I know
or I’ve heard
your loveyous
and mornins
so when
we spoke
I hope you didn’t mind
the words we said
rooted in disbelief
at what you did
but reclining
back into kindness
because after all
it is the day
when you’d have turned
an older age
and I hope we’re living
your expectations
if you have them
and I think I’ll name
my daughter after you
if I have one
and if not
then a son
both would work
and I’m glad that
nobody cried but also
I kind of wish they had
is that bad
to think that a visual
missing
makes the most sense
for it is always
together
we feel your absence
and mostly just thank-you
for being her Mom
and fighting for her
and bestowing your love
and I’m saying I realize
that it didn’t run
out
just maybe
became
so it wasn’t enough
and staying
seemed harder than hard
but anyway
we stooped over
your picture
earlier
admired your lips
and almondy eyes
you were beautiful
thoughtful
so lovely
alive
and I tried to find me
in you
but maybe
it’s not on the surface
but dark-dropoff-deep
and then
I picture
with my vivid mind
you pouring your coffee
and sipping
while staring
outside.
I'm walking the same
path
you did
at one time.
Comments
I hope you didn’t mindthe
I hope you didn’t mind
the words we said
rooted in disbelief
at what you did
but reclining back into kindness
^^^(this raises questions in my mind...did she...? )
and I hope we’re living
your expectations
if you have them
and I think I’ll name
my daughter after you
^^(I really like this - living your expectations)
and I tried to find me
in you
or I’ve heard
your loveyous
and mornins
^^ (at this point, I thought, this is going to be a GOOD poem. :) )
I'm walking the same
path
you did
at one time.
^^(Great ending! Made me read it over again.)
I think it's fitting you titled this Happy Birthday with a period. Thanks for posting this! It's sad, but creative and shows alot of musings if you know what I mean.
Edit: oh and yes, ditto to Sarah Bethany...this felt like my own grandmother! You made me think of what I would write.
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Ralph Waldo Emerson
My eyes literally welled up
My eyes literally welled up while reading this! What a thoughtful as achingly beautiful piece. I understood the meaning of the poem halfway through and felt a heaviness, as if she were my own and I loved the way you wrote this!
So deep and so lovely!
Thanks for sharing!
"Here's looking at you, Kid"
---
Write On!
Beautiful
A beautiful tribute Homey :) Made me so wistful and almost cry. It was bittersweet with the memories you showed, and your word choice was perfect. Thanks for this lovely piece. Blessings to you!
"Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
So many startling but
So many startling but effective images in this. "the lick of your tone" really caught my eye. Lovely tribute.
"You were not meant to fit into a shallow box built by someone else." -J. Raymond
You are all so lovely! Thank
You are all so lovely! Thank you for the kind words and critiques! I am so lucky to know such wonderful people. <3
<3
Beautiful tribute <3 I felt that it was my own grandmother, and I went on the walk-journey with you. Very vivid, with the almondy eyes and trying to see yourself in her. I hope my own future granddaughter will write me a similar tribute one day :)