Friday 4 December 2020

Dec 4th

my Heartists
my lights..
my Warriors of Love

it's been awhile since 
I've met you 
here

it's been a year 

since my mother died

she always favoured my sister
        they had more in common

she refused my help 
often

until 
she was in palliative care
and had no choice
because 
I lived the closest
        I loved showering
her with my attention
affection
during that time

one day
near the day
she passed

I couldn't enter
the hospital
I was frozen
    fear
    pain
    sadness
    overwhelm
        all of it made me 
Stand Still
        I wanted to run

                you answered your phone
                you were in a hurry
                you were busy
                        about to leave to meet a friend
               I needed you
                        you gave me courage
                        stayed on the phone
                        with me
                as I entered the hospital
                        as I pushed
                        against 
                        the force of 
                        death
                        to breathe
                        its
                        chemical 
                        air

                        step 
                            by 
                                step
                into the metal box
                        the elevator
                        took 
                        me
                        down 
                        to the basement
                        into
                        the cavern
                        from 
                        where
                        only 
                        the 
                        grateful living
                        return

                do you know?
                do you know how hard it was?
                to face her mortality
                to know she would never
                be her living Self
                to me
                with me?
                        to know
                        her Finality?

                do you know how much you helped?
                        do you know 
                how sad I was
                        that you weren't
                        bothered
                        by my
                state
                but seemed to care 
                more
                about meeting
                your friend for
                coffee?
                        you barely 
                        went for coffee with me
                        and we were more than lovers

                        I felt like a nuisance
                        to you

my mother died
alone
a few days later
        despite the regular
        visits
despite the long hours 
        I was there
        willing
        wanting 
to be with her
        by her
                she died alone

I wish I had been
there
        so she knew
        my Love was ever Present
I wish I had been
there
        to cherish
        all of her
        while I could


It's true
no one
can die for us
it's a journey each must face alone
        even 
        if in the 
        midst of a crowd

It's also true
no one can live
our Life for us
our Story is our own
        even 
        if in the
        midst of a crowd
we must Live it

Live it 
for all those 
who can no longer
    see
    taste
    feel
    smell
    hear
    sense
    or
        touch

Live it
Love it
Cherish it
    enjoy the scent of snow
    the kiss of the sun
    the warmth of loving touch
          for just as all pain and suffering finds end, this too shall pass  


For all the Heartists who have seen Death, heard her whisper or song and cried at her feet, let us be reminded that her sweet embrace leads us to an authentic Life.  For who can best teach us the Value of Life, if not Death? 


I remain,

Lesléy

Hallelujah Heartist





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