lingers that day

bereft of feelings, eyes close, sight unwanted, screams choke - birthing pinched noses, tense chins ache their tension

organ thunders, congregation stands, children cower, lilies blush, lips ajar - voices stutter, tears drench hymnals

local paper headlines editorial hidden within, two names mentioned with

silent respect an' more

time passes as she does, yet lives forever in stone, aching hearts - morbid

with future emptiness

her hands settle 'pon family's shoulders fingers a'tremble, softly speaking, 

'Am with you, my darlings'

service ' ended, wake ahead, we stand slowly an' with village community's 

crumbling hearts falling

such is life in the shadows time for the memories, creaks the kirk's oak door

not one gleam laughs

along the sullen loch-side cars park, empty of life, cigarette-ends in gutters

yet warmth curls from our chimneys 

there - where later, glassware will awaken mouths to smile an' hands to stroke

shoulders, fingers gently squeezing 

here - playing the air with laughter an' her words echo from the past into an

endless dawn resting in a glorious shadow

Reviews

[Brandon Houser]

I find this beautiful bit of writing not too long before we arrive at the anniversary of my grandmother's passing. You are the 2nd person to touch this nerve today. I feel comfort from your writing. Thank you.

[emmajoygreen]

Many sincere thanks. Empathy means not only standing in someone's shoes but somehow knowing where the ache is because.. one somehow feels the chill air but - knows that warmth is soon to lay its fingers on your heart.. ..

[willweb]

I recently lost a very close friend that, like you, I have never met. We were writing friends and have been for almost 20 years, conversing almost everyday briefly. Anyway, your poem spoke to me and I wanted to say that the final line was extremely comforting, because I didn't get a chance to say goodbye and because she lived 2000 miles away, I couldn't attend the funeral and honestly had no idea where it was if I could have but, "here - playing the air with laughter an' her words echo from the past into an endless dawn resting in a glorious shadow" These words touched me.

[emmajoygreen]

Seems my words helped you as their thoughts and intention helped me long, long ago. Is good to share comfort and kindness, yes?

[Coyote Poetry]

A ghostly read dear Emma. I believe the past and now roll into one. You share pictures of places and faces. A wonderful read. You made the language dance so beautifully.
Coyote

[emmajoygreen]

Many thanks, sir. Language is meant to be shared, especially when - magically, out of the blue, they are needed!

[LisaCarol]

Such vivid imagery and heart felt emotions described in this piece. Your writing is always this way and touches my heart and soul. Thank you for sharing.

[emmajoygreen]

Many thanks for your kind words, LisaCarol - dear friend. I sincerely hope life is being kind to you. Please, please keep in touch.

[Pete]

never an easy thing saying goodbye. that day loiters with a sad recollection. can feel the empty void as you describe the scene. i like how you magnify the seemingly mundane details and giving them a greater importance - we need something to hold onto and stoke the embers of feelings, emotions, memories and tribute.

"... yet warmth curls from our chimneys ..." - indeed.

[emmajoygreen]

Empathic you, Pete: many thanks for leaving your thoughts. You could certainly see the feelings hidden in my words' shadows.

[Curly Grace]

A somber, atmospheric piece, Emma... your imagery carries the weight of the day with quiet grace.

[emmajoygreen]

Thank you so very much. A dear cousin who was deeply involved with self and my birth family, recently passed. We have so many memories but .. we'll have to work hard to hear her voice, her laugh..

[D. Mansfield]

First off , I'm very sorry for your loss, even if it was only on paper, but I doubt that. The depth of feeling in this can't be conjured on a whim. This was loss. An ending, that carefully disguised anything positive that may come from it. Your suffering bleeds through while you try to mask it, to save the feelings of those around you from more hurt. I am a weak human, I avoid funerals, to the point of embarrassment. They ruin me, for months. Great writing

[emmajoygreen]

Surely, we can't avoid a funeral of a family member or close friend or, indeed a person who lives in the same village or wherever? Is a show of respect and in many cases, love. Going to funerals can hurt like hell but better that or have someone die and put away without thought of empathy. Do unto others as.. ..

[D. Mansfield]

I appreciate I at the reminder, I always try, maybe I can get past and become human again

[emmajoygreen]

Of course you're human and I certainly wasn't meaning to be arrogant. We're all different, our emotions vary - as they should. Forgive, please.

[D. Mansfield]

No I didn't mean it that way. Your right, of course, I've been a schmuk

[emmajoygreen]

Never! Would never be rude enough to insinuate that. If I did, profuse apologies.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Ah Emma Joy, I am in my seventh decade so have been through the experiences you describe several times. I found your poem so well written, so touching, and so illuminated with the small, yet so meaningful, individual gestures of grief, of communal mourning. Well done my friend.

[emmajoygreen]

Many thanks, sir. We celebrate birth and - surely, should celebrate a person's past being however and whenever we wish to.

[Thomas W Case]

You hold grief like a steady flame, letting it bleed through stone and smoke.
Even in sorrow’s shadow, warmth threads its way—soft, persistent, human.

[emmajoygreen]

When we've loved or cared about someone or - as with neighbours, respected them, surely one should show how or at the least - acknowledged their being before the long sleep?