We don’t know do we … we had a love that spread across
the deep space of time … the earthy scent of autumn, the spring green essence
of life, while in summer it bloomed … how do we know that love ... it is just
us. Time is ahead …
… is it? No …
a bruised darkness descends - one of us is gone … bereavement for the other …
Time passes … slowly, gloomily – there is no joy, just
the desolation … leaning against her gravestone – the hanging emptiness of
days, then months, years …
 |
| Hermann Hosaeus 1875 - 1958 |
… at last the fading light eases into his body … his
heart slows … he joins the love of his life … in her for-ever winter sleep … no
more as a grave mistake …
WEP/IWSG – see here for entry parametersand contributors … everyone welcome …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
53 comments:
I just added your sweet poem to the entries. It comes up as #7. A destiny we'll each know. Whether we wait here or on the other side. Beautifully written!
Echoing Renee. This is indeed a destiny which comes to us all. And I loved your gentle reflection of that reality.
The hanging emptiness of days... it never goes away.
So can a widow or widower marry again and reduce the emptiness? I hope so.
Hari OM
This is so poignant, Hilary - a delight to read! YAM xx
This is haunting and beautifully written! The loss of a love can be utterly overwhelming, and you captured that wonderfully here.
A touching piece, beautifully written Hilary.
@ Renee - thanks for adding my DL in ... it was on my list when I woke up! Yes - we'll all go through this phase in our life ... and I know sometimes people will be so devastated they can't adapt to that loss. Thank you for the comment ...
@ EC - yes it is a destiny for us all - sometimes people need to wait for what must seem 'for ever'... so sad, but that love is total in life and in death ...
@ Hels - I'm sure for many that emptiness hangs there ... oh yes some people will go on and have a second life, some sadly just don't seem to be able to move on - they don't want to ...
@ Yam - thank you ... there were some connections - not personal ones ... but things I'd read, from where the story evolved ...
@ Laura - thank you - it's difficult to write about ... but I'd been reading a few things recently along these lines ... so realised some people don't ever get over their loss ...
@ Keith - thank you - I'm happy you 'enjoyed' the sadness ...
Lovely seeing you all and thank you for the comments - stay safe - Hilary
This is very poignantly done, Hilary, and reflects a condition that will befall most of us in life, usually towards the end when we are perhaps less able to cope well with loss of this magnitude. But, as Hels infers above, a new partner can alleviate much of the grief, and the human spirit is capable of grasping the new and rejoicing in it, while treasuring memories of the old also. The way that people deal with it is as different as was the quality of the first relationship, no doubt.
You captured something powerful in just a few words.
"forever winter sleep" So darn good! Excellent job in few words
@ David - many thanks ... yes we'll certainly all go this way. It was meant to be a one love - where there can be no other, nor will there likely to be another - hence the morbidness of it all.
Yes - some and many probably will remarry or happily live together - these two are not of that ilk - based on a real life couple ... the sleeping gravestone fitted into the story so well.
@ Alex - thank you ... some people just have that one 'together' life and if it goes too early ... there's no other way forward ... life will happen, but not love.
@ Joanne - thank you ... had to bring winter in ... so pleased you enjoyed it ...
Take care all of you - and stay safe - Hilary
I feel that when I fear my husband's death. I don't want to go on without him. Sigh.
Very gentle yet poignant.
What a powerful piece, Hilary. Well done.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Elsie
Well done. It sums how you feel when a big part of life has left this world. It does make the idea you might meet them again easier? depending on what you think happens at death.
Kind of sad. . .
A post worth reading
Well, Hilary, that should make anyone stop and think for a long time. Painfully lovely.
Hilary this was gorgeous writing. Right to the soul. Beautiful. Hugs xx
Very powerful scene.
Brilliant!
@ Jacqui – I can imagine that … but you’re lucky you’re still together enjoying and dealing with life … one can’t or shouldn’t dwell on the future …
@ Sanhita – thank you … yes gentleness for those years …
@ Elsie – thank you … some people will adjust, others cannot … ‘it is us’ – and life …
@ Ann – good to see you; it must be so difficult to adjust to losing a loved one after many years … some people I’m sure move on – in this case it wasn’t a consideration. What happens after death – is another consideration based on one’s own beliefs I would imagine …
@ Liz – yes very sad …
@ Jo-Anne – thank you …
@ Mike – just we never know what’s ahead … and if one is happily married even more challenging should that early death happen. Thank you …
@ Debby – not something one hopes happens … but we just never know …
@ Ian – thank you … I can imagine life would be so difficult – some will overcome, but others will linger – as I was imagining here …
@ Donna – many thanks …
Thanks for visiting and appreciating the sad thoughts here … came about from reading this sort of love of a couple in the 1930s … take care and have safe weekends - Hilary
Beautifully written and very touching.
~Cie from Naughty Netherworld Press~
Touching. Lasting love is so hard to find. Loved the pictures too Hilary.
Hi,
I love this poignant look at eternal love between a couple who have grown older with the years and leaves them behind when the soulmate of his or her life dies first. I think that the lamp never really grows dim until the other crosses over.
You touched my heart.
Shalom aleichem
Wow, Hilary, your poem is beautiful! Reading it reminded me of the Spanish writer, Carlos Ruiz Zafron who wrote one of my favorite ever books, "The Shadow of the Wind."
Absolutely beautiful and heartfelt, Hilary. Truly inspiring. All best to you, my dear!
Bittersweet yet beautiful!
'The hanging emptiness of days then months, years.' The loneliness of grief. Until faced with the fate that comes to us all. So very moving, Hilary.
Hi Hilary~ A destiny which comes to us all and there's nothing we can do about it. I loved your gentle reflection of that reality. So few words. All that was needed.
A great entry for the prompt, Hilary. Thank you.
Lovely and poignant, a milestone that comes to us all. The images are breath taking, Hilary, they really add to your entry. Just beautiful.
@ Cie – thank you … sad to lose one’s love so early in that passion of happiness …
@ Donna – yes lasting love is hard to find – especially when one of them dies so early in their time together … I moulded the end around ‘The Sleep’ headstone …
@ Pat – thank you … I was wrapping the story from a real life situation … where one died really early in their love life … in later life it happens too often … I’m sure the ‘lamp never grows dim until the other crosses over’ - in this case there was never going to be another … the one love was ‘that one love’ …
@ Pam – thank you … is it a poem – I’m just delighted it’s being enjoyed. I’ve just ordered your book suggestion … so will read in the months ahead.
@ Victoria – a pleasure … I’m just delighted you appreciated the read …
@ Carrie Ann – thank you – for many years it was a very bitter ending after that passionate sweet beginning …
@ Donna – sadly it is so true … I can imagine many feeling that way – though I have no personal idea about it: but that expression seemed to fit the thought. Loneliness of grief is so desperate … thank you …
@ Denise – great to see you – yes a destiny that comes to us all – this one was way too early for one of the lovers … appreciate your thoughts …
@ Nila – you’re right it is a milestone in life … sometimes there’s time to reflect – on occasions it happens way too suddenly and early. Thank you re the images – I used ‘The Sleep’ headstone to tie the story up …
Thanks everyone for your comments and thoughts – stay safe … all the best Hilary
So poignant, Hilary, beautifully done.
Grief is so raw sometimes, we wonder how we manage to carry on. Lovely words.
The grief and loss is felt. Heartbreaking beautiful.
A lovely way to capture grief, Hilary. Well done.
Ouch. That hit a little too close. "Time is ahead"--until it isn't.
@ Anabel - thank you ... it must be so sad to be in this position ...
@ Sally - grief must be raw and so uncomfortable ... for as long as it takes - just challenging ...
@ Truedessa - thank you ... yes the grief and loss must be heartbreaking ...
@ Elizabeth - many thanks ... just appreciate that the concept came over ...
@ Rebecca - thank you - I do understand ... it's a little too close - and time isn't ahead ... desperate for you ...
Take care and stay safe and all the best - Hilary
Hi Hilary,
I am so pleased to read some of your poetic verse. You captured a realistic moment that so many people experience at some point in their lives. Such a touching tribute to all who have lost their loves and wainting to be reunited with them!
Beautiful poem. Made me cry because it reminded me of what my mother went through when my dad died at 56. She lived to 79. Alone. My friend lost her husband 26 years ago and remarried 2 years ago when she met a widower. She is full of gratitude for having loved twice.
Hilary, this entry conveys the sadness of losing a loved one so well! "Bruised darkness" is a brilliant turn of phrase. Applause, applause!
What a mood this created. Bravo! :)
~Jess
Moving and poignant. Well crafted piece, Hilary.
@ Michael – thank you … yes it will always happen to one or the other won’t it … just desperate times when it’s way too early …
@ Joylene – I’m sorry to read about your mother … I can understand better now: I’ve had time to consider the situation … early death is so sad. Your friend deserves some happiness and from your comment is very aware of her fortune …
Thank you for your lovely and appropriate comment …
@ Debbie – I appreciate your thoughts here … losing a loving partner must be just so sad to cope with … thanks so much …
@ Jess – many thanks – not easy to do when I haven’t been there … but one gets the idea through reading and listening …
@ Roland – good to see you and thanks so much …
Take care all of you – and all the best - Hilary
This was wonderfully chilling and very evocative.
Well done!
'Bruised darkness.' Excellent word usage.
Oh Hilary! Excellent.
Hi-ya, Hilary.
Well done! I can certainly relate to the sentiments in your words, and you expressed them beautifully. Believe me, it would be sooooo easy to wallow in the emptiness of long lonely days, especially during the forced isolation of this pandemic, but I refuse to succumb to the temptation. I miss my husband, but I'm in no rush to join him.
Take care.
Hi Hilary!
This is beautifully written. You write so well, my friend.
Powerful words, Hilary. “...hanging emptiness of days...” And, of course, “grave mistake.” All of this is hitting too close to home as my husband and I get older. A beautiful, sad, yet strangely uplifting poem.
@ Sandra – many thanks for both your comments …
@ Holly – delighted with your exclamation! Thanks …
@ Susan – I was aware when writing this that there would be people reading who had lost or were losing very dear ones … Fortunately you had most of your life together – these two never experienced the majority of their life together … hence the extent of time ‘the hanging emptiness of waiting’ …
Also you had time to adjust to the end coming – these two it was the suddenness of that loss.
I’m so pleased to see you’ve adjusted as best you can – the pandemic doesn’t help – and it’d be a lot easier if he was still with you … but glad you’re in no rush to join him. All the best …. Always good to read your posts and thoughts …
@ Nas – many thanks … I’m just grateful commenters enjoy the posts or these prompt ideas …
@ Erica – thank you … yes I realise it would be ‘a close call for some readers’ – so appreciate your comment – still wonderful you have your husband to see out many more days together. I’m glad it came over as relatively uplifting …
Thanks to you all – love your comments and thoughts … take care and all the best to one and all - Hilary
Again, so well written, and how purrfect for the season.
Hope your day is as special as you are.
Thanks Sandra - appreciate your comment ... take care - Hilary
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