There exists a great deal of literature on the wisdom of "letting go." The following poems, however, remind me of the equally great wisdom of holding on. Granted, we need to "hold on" in a way that does not bring our lives to a standstill, and in a way that does no harm to ourselves or others. Yet I see no harm in the kind of holding on that these poems affirm. We do not relinquish our loved ones from our heart and mind. We do long to reunite with them in an eternity we cannot know without traveling there ourselves. This, too, is part of our human experience. This, too, helps us get along with our grief.
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To Florrie on her 26th Birthday
by Wilda Morris
Your mother was almost eight when we
adopted her.
When she was pregnant, she said, I’ll share my baby
with
you, since you never had one of your own.
I treasured those afternoons when “You
Are My Sunshine”
kept slipping from my heart to my lips
as I soothed tired tears
or gazed in awe at your sleepy smile.
A warmth swelled within me as my hand
patted
your back, tousled your hair. Your
eyelids drooped.
My fingers could not resist massaging
your doll-like feet, tiny toes, your
hands
and exquisite fingers. I rocked you for
hours,
unwilling to relinquish you to the crib,
never seeing
the specter of that July day when you were
almost seven,
the day a gray cloud shrouded the sun in
your eyes,
and your eyelids closed for the last
time. Today I rock again,
feel your head against my chest, your
golden curls
tickling my arm. I look for your sunny
face, listen
for your bubbling laughter. Dearest
Florrie,
I will never relinquish you, my baby, my
first grandchild.
_________________________________________
Farewell, Sandy
for
Sandy Davis
by Kufre Edeme
Sandy,
oh, Sandy!
Why gone so soon like a fading morning moon?
I miss you so dearly, Sandy.
My heart melts at your departure
Sandy, your absence sweeps me to sadness,
But I know that you're with the Father.
I know that someday we'll meet again
In a place where we'll stay forever,
A place where there'll be no more sorrows.
Farewell, Sandy,
My friend you shall remain
Until we meet to break no more
Farewell, Sandy,
Until darkness fades away.
______________________________
Wilda Morris is past President and current Workshop Chair of Poets & Patrons of Chicago. Her poems have been published in numerous anthologies, literary journals and other publications, including Alive Now, MO: Writings from the River, and Seeding the Snow. Her blog, at wildamorris.blogspot.com provides a monthly prompt and contest for other poets. This is her third publication on our blog. "To Florrie on her 26th Birthday," copyright Wilda Morris.
Kufre
Udeme is a strong-willed writer with an artistic commitment to confront and
defeat the blind (founded on ignorance or prejudice) criticisms of
Africa. He has written columns for local newspapers, and his poetry has been
published extensively in numerous countries. He enjoys hearing from readers via
his blog kufreudeme.blogspot.com
Poem "Farewell, Sandy," copyright Kufre Udeme.
Photos by Ysabel de la Rosa
