He sits dejected on the old lounge floor
Head leans back in search of one now passed
Eyes glancing hopeful at the entrance door
In memory searching when he’d seen her last
Those precious times he sat her on his lap
As both of them watched movies in the night,
And many times he’d wake up from a nap
To see her there, a very pretty sight
Then she was gone and he was left alone
The shock of it was more than he could bear
He cried his grief to children on the phone
They quickly ran to join their Father there
And now they watched their Father’s grief filled face
He looked around to find another chair
For no one else could take their Mother’s place
He’d never even think to sit back there
They vainly tried to coax him to their place
He forced a smile and told them all to go
For they had duties each of them must face
And he would stay with Mother’s afterglow
They laid their Mother gently to her rest
The time then came for each of them to go
They tried again and put him to a test
But firmly still he gave the answer no
His memories all were centered in this place
He needed time, for time alone can heal
And this was something he alone must face
The children saw that his resolve was real
They checked his progress often on the phone
His grief was more than he himself could face
The children saw he couldn’t cope alone
And gently took him to his daughter’s place
His friends all gone he gave up on this life
And there resolved to join his sweetheart dear
The one he missed his distant beckoning wife
The night he left he saw her vision clear.
“© Copyright Ian Grice 2011 All rights reserved”
ianscyberspace 
Ian, I put off reading this poem knowing it would make me sad. I am dreading the day of mum going and this really hit home.
Keep writing these poems – they mean something to a lot of people.
Sue R.
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Well thank you so much Sue. I write what I feel, and my creations are really things I’ve experienced or observed over the years put into words.
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Very nice bitter/sweet poem sweet Ian. When some couples are together and so close for many years seems they pass on very near the same time. I feel sorry for the one left behind they have to be so lonely and miss their mate so much. Hugs
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Yes, when that happens the one left behind often finds it difficult to establish new contacts and tends to live a solitary life with their memories. Sad isn’t it?
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Yes the internet can be a tonic as you have aptly put it.
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Yes. Luck had a lot to do with it; but, the companionship of many International friends of mine was the real “saving grace” in my case.
I appreciate these contacts more every day. It is like a “tonic” that is always just a key tap away!! Thanks All!!
Jim the Fee
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Stange you should post that one here at this time. I can read it and appreciate the fact that I was the “old man” in your piece. I went through
each of those steps and suffered the horrible grief the same as he. I pushed my kids away from me in the same way. I foundered and “mentally bled myself of all will and energy” Then I began to heal. I came back into the real world to find that it had gone on without me after all. (good object lesson learned there) I now am on the way to my new career, have rejoined the rest of the world but have never forgotten Ruth. She has not faded away for me in any way. I just have picked up living my life in a different mode with new habit patterns being formed each day. An interesting “rebirth” you might say!?!
Cheers,
Jim the Fee
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It was my Father’s experience after my Mother passed on that inspired this poem. It’s like a physical wound that heals over time. It does not pain any more, but you can always see the scar. You are lucky you had the fortitude to climb out of the pit of despondancy. My Father was unable to do that and passed on soon after.
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