Around your hole, another part of my childhood gone.

by Darren   Aug 19, 2018


And so we gather
some tearful, strained convulsions, leaking sorrow
around your hole we stand, clutching our lovers
as you are lowered onto your first love

as the wind scampers through us
bone thawing violating gust on a warm day
I look around from inside this clone of me

That mind blowing realisation
screaming, wretch filled dawning
this will be me
one day.

Counting down the days I have left
on my fingers, if I had 2136 hands
Death breathing down my neck
pushing his bony, crackling digit through my heart
from behind

Laughter dancing around my stomach
like a washing machine cycle
I swallow hard to prevent it escaping

Those roses scattered onto your new home
an overpriced wooden box, with shiny magpie coaxing handles
that nobody will ever see again, after today

Those tears from others, that were too busy
their own introverted little existence
brutally interrupted by your death

My wife pulls me close,
yet I know she assumes I will go first
or so death whispers to me.

Then a break

Not only in the sky but in my mind.
Both were cloudy, yet sunshine thoughts win out.

Gone have the envious feelings,
that you have completed your journey,
I've still to amble mine.
so I remember the first and last times we spoke instead.

As we turn to leave, to continue with our mummers farce
our daily interwoven lives, I turn back
as do we all, to look up at that tremendous oak tree
the guardian of your resting place,
we spy those two doves, kissing sitting close
witnesses of the whole sorry scene.

**A poem written after my Nans funeral last week. When she was lowered into my Grandfathers grave, there was this strange gust of wind, only once on an otherwise calm sunny day. Then we spotted two doves sitting next to each other in the tree directly above the hole. Everybody smiled and we could tell we were all thinking the same thing. Some things cannot be explained despite dubious minds.

7


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Latest Comments

  • 5 years ago

    by Em (marmite)

    This Darren has possibly been the most touching of poetry I have read recently as it seems my knack for 'feeling' and writing poetry (if that makes sense) has disappeared of late hut this was just the thing it seemed to pull me back in.... It touched me more so as only in Feb did I bury my grandad 12. 5 years after my nan and even though they'd gone their separate ways they always loved other anywaybi digress this hit me as tonight I'd been thinking about them both and whether or not they'd be back together, happy again, eternally.
    Take care and my condolences to you and &

  • 5 years ago

    by Larry Chamberlin

    I have long lived by the maxim that you should seek feedback from the world. It seems to me that the world gave you a heart-full of feedback from your Nan & Grandfather. You have both my condolences and my thanks for sharing this blessing with us.

  • 5 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    A funeral is supposed to bring closure. Funny how it opens up the possibility of so much more.
    My thoughts are with you.

  • 5 years ago

    by Poet on the Piano

    Sending my deepest condolences as well, Darren. As hard as it is to put these feelings and this heavy loss into words, you have shared this moment that really can't be explained. Some things happen and I'm glad those who witnessed the doves and wind were able to smile, hopefully it meant something personal to them. I always find that incredible. When we are mourning, thinking about life and death and so many things our minds can't wrap around, and then there's a flicker of sunlight or some sort of presence even in nature that is different than what we expect.

    Beautifully written and my heart goes out to you and your whole family. Sending much love and I hope you are able to remember all the memories shared with your Nan <3

  • 5 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    A scene wonderfully painted, Darren. For your grandmother's passing, I am sorry but for your moment of potential universal enlightenment, I am not. Not religious myself, but there are some things that simply cannot be explained, as you so rightly say.
    I will nominate this if I am able tomorrow, but I'm not sure if the site will allow it. Anyway, some poems transcend even the mighty weekly and this is one of them; it is of no consequence whatsoever in relation to the incredibly powerful content of this piece.

    Do take care

    • 5 years ago

      by Darren

      Thanks Ben, appreciate the comment and the potential nomination

    • 5 years ago

      by Darren

      Thanks MA appreciate you reading

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