Some hearts healed

My parents
Both have gone
How grateful I am
For what they gave
Their nurturing, their love

When her beloved passed away
Her life was not the same
Not having him beside her
To talk to, or hold her hand

And we were not to know it
But her time with us was short
It only took forty days
To die from a broken heart

Hard for us to comprehend
So tortuous to see
Her body each day grew weaker
Till she slipped away from family

Our hearts are broken in pieces
As they did, not that long ago
But we know that she is happy now
Back in the arms of her lovey Joe

image

 

Mumma ~ 30.3.1929 – 29.5.2017

Poppa ~ 03.7.1927 – 19.4.2017

It is with great sadness that I let you know, that my darling mum Irene, passed away on the 29th of May. Fighting for almost 19 days, no food, no fluid. Some complications, but under advice, my brother and I made the hardest decision to let nature takes its course.
The thread that holds me together is knowing that both ‘my penguins’ are now in each other’s arms once again, after forty days of being apart.

I stayed in her hospital room, as I did for Pop, for the two and a half weeks, loving her, talking to her, hugging her, kissing her. The last 5 days unresponsive, but I spoke to her continually. My heart tearing in to pieces, with every shallow breath she took.

Now I take the road of grief and it hurts and cuts like a knife, both my parents now gone so soon, too soon.

RIP Muma and Poppa

till I see you again

xx

I am the stone

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My spirits in the stone you hold
Warm it for a while, before I’m
cast in to the coolness of the lake
say your goodbyes
your peace with me
as I return to earth

As you let go into the stillness
remember the first ripples that you see
they belong to you, my love
the closet that is to me
for you I’ve loved and
have been loved in return

You are the one I fear for most
your pain will be felt most
the ripples continue outwards
belonging to family
beyond the eddies the circles wide
are for my life long friends

The water runs deep
I sink slowly to rest
along the sands below
beneath the cool
the ripples will subside
as must your pain

When all you see is the sunset
and no more sight of ‘me’
I will return to those I’ve loved
I still have breath to breathe

Copyright JMTacken 13.1.2015

We remember Mid October

She left us with a smile
it bounced gently
from across the shores
like rays of sun
into our hearts
the lilt of her voice never heard
her giggles spread
far and wide across the pages
that she wrote
she loved chocolate
spreadsheets, lists
rode on bikes
showed us strength
in oh so many ways
and we were taken in
love and admired
her charm that reached out
to us and we were grateful for
her courage and determination

No matter how long or short a life
sadness falls upon us
when we lose those whom we love
mere words not enough to cover
the uniqueness of a life
the joy they brought
the mutual love and friendship

When they are called to travel on
we are left with memories
cherishing the time
we shared their lives
a candle that once burned so brightly
was extinguished without a flicker
and we now remember how brightly it burned
I still hear her giggles, I do
as I listen to the cello play

Dedicated to our Katie (a WP writer) who left our world and those she loved and who loved her October, 2013. We love you, we miss you, we know you are with us still

Copyright JMTacken 7.11.2014

For my brother R.I.P (Prose with music)

IMG_0613

[youtube.com/watch?v=Cl5dFGGLQjc]

and play

Send a whisper back, to who was loved
catch the moment they may hear
enshrouded veils of yesterday’s
if I could reach through years
to bring you home

I would

Mountains, seas, harshness of winter
winds, heat of summer sun, do you feel
do you see ~ divided I trace momentos
can I bring you home again

Can I bring you home

holding to memories, your smile
laughter, the goodness you had
inside, misunderstood by many
free spirit you walked your own path

Have you found your way

My aching heart still lingers
when I think of you
the flowers next to frames
words spoken, so much time passed

I’ll always remember you

Photos holding you, the beads you wore
the poem I wrote leans against your heart
a reminder of who we were
who you were

A sister/a brother

Born into this world
not knowing of tomorrow’s
when you began to lose your way
perhaps beliefs could have changed
then you may have stayed

Return to me/to us

All I have is memories
and parts of you, you owned
your crystals, your scarves
the glasses that you wore

Come home

Silently cross legged
corner of room
symbolic mudra held
I glance and realise
silence of words

This belonged to you

This is what you left
majestically he sits, silent
eyes closed in my house
guiding, reminding me of you

My fingers wordlessly trace the wood

I hope that you dance and laugh
wherever you may be
that clouds are white not grey
that music fills your heart
that you remember me

Can I bring you home

I would if I was able
so you could be again
give a sign you’re happy
you hear my words ‘cross
tears that fall

Call a whisper forward

©jmtacken Feb 2014

My younger brother passed 10 years ago… today listening to music I felt the need to write the above.

Colleen from http://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com  wrote a post the other day. In this post were two lines that I was attracted to immediately  – Send a whisper back and Call a whisper forward. With her permission, I use these lines in the above- thank you Colleen.

I share this with OLN http://dversepoets.com

Merry Christmas to you and to all Goodnight

Best singing voices everyone – to be sung to Away in A Manger…but not the words in brackets..

Christmas in Australia (Down Under)

is just round the bend (tee hee tomorrow)

I have prepped and stressed out  (no I haven’t this year it’s at Sister -in-laws)

and now hope this will end

~~~~

We shall have our nibbilies

when they first walk in the door (no her door)

then we’ll offer them a drink 

one or two or maybe more

~~~

We shall sit at the table and crack

our bon-bons plastic toys and

paper hats and will look

like proper nongs ( Aussie for idiot)

~~~

I’ll stress ’bout the turkey and also the pork (not this year)

is it cooked properly through

is it done right? Yes I query

please test with your fork

~~~

I’ll consume too much alcohol (a given)

I know this to be true

and I’ll get all melancholy

just gazing at you (bleary eyed)

~~~

the entree will come first

do not know what they’ll bring (I’m bringing 3kgs of prawns with home made Sate sauce & lots of garlic)

I’m sure it’ll be delightful

and we’ll gladly tuck in

~~~

the spuds will be crunchy

the pumpkin cooked just right

the mushy peas and salads

tasty morsels every bite

~~~

Then we have our pudding

lashings of custard if you please

then there’s trifle laced with alcohol ( a given again)

oh our belts will surely squeeze

~~~

The wine will flow freely

the laughs will get loud

there’ll be memories of

past years and how we imbibed

~~~

The presents will we open we

will goo and we will will gaa

we shall say oh you shouldn’t have (eyes rolling)

you really went too far

~~~

BUT secretly we are happy

for the presents that they gave

we’re delighted and thankful

and ‘each one’ is our fave

~~~

The Carols will be playing

in the background soft and sweet

we shall eat drink and be merry

and later fall asleep (some quicker than others)

~~~

Yes,  this day is for families

and ones that you love

if I start to get teary

I will blame the egg-nog (have to blame something)

~~~

The festivities will be finished

the kitchen is a mess (well hers will be)

the dishes piled up high

but at least no more stress

~~~

Then Christmas day is over and

our tummies will be full and we

daren’t go and weigh ourselves

no that would be cruel

~~~

So enjoy your celebrations

whatever you may do have

and cry or laugh hysterically

for you’re entitled too 

©jmtacken 2013

I cheated – this is what I wrote last year..it’s a bit…hmmm…unless of course you sang (okay it’s still hmmm) and I added a few bits as I am not holding Christmas this year (PHEW) but as I have another Service to write ~ well I’m taking the easy way out.

Seriously though ~ how do I thank you? All of you, for your kind words, your critique, your encouragement, your care, your support. I have been on WP since July last year, last December I had posted 69 posts..up to this one 712… yes ~ that is why I called my site Ramblings.

Again seriously, this Mums from ‘Down Under’ is grateful that I have met you and developed friendships. We lost another fellow WP in October and she will be sorely missed. I will miss her, those who knew her will miss her.  Everyone (no matter how corny or trite you may think this sounds) is part of a family on here. We share, we cry, we give, we take, we laugh, encourage, we are humble, we boast…sounds like a family to me.

So from me to you all, I wish each and every one of you a beautiful Christmas. Mine of course is tomorrow, so I shall have a full stomach before you even start on yours. Ours will be in 31 deg heat…yours…hmm not so much.

May you all continue to write, continue to support each other and be there for one another ~ the good – the bad and the ugly. 

and like ‘Arnie’…. “I’ll be back”

Love ya’ faces

xxx

santa-in-canoe

Take Care everyone, stay safe and may your Christmas Day be filled with wonderment, joy and mostly love.

Goodbye my friend for Rachel her young daughter & her friends on WP

travel-to-ireland7

as the soft winds blow across the shamrocks
as the salt spray vanishes ‘cross the Irish seas
~ a breath last drawn, somewhere in our world
the insidious hands of a cruel disease
grasping at your loveliness your beauty and your strength
and if I had a four leaf clover, I’d wish for your return

you prayed for its release, we prayed alongside with you
and if hands weren’t clasped, you were in our thoughts
to the Universe; for though I’d never met you
a door was opened to my heart, you let the soft Irish wind
touch my soul, with your words and smiles

a life sorely missed, by your family and by us all
one moment you were with us ~ the other you were gone
we miss the friendship that you gave, the happiness you shared
your ‘lists’ and ‘nods’ and humour ~ life will never be the same

our darling Katie ~ the Irish lass who we all loved
our hearts will remember you, as you watch from up above
I thank you for being you, the gentleness of a friend
I met through writing on W P and my tears keep falling
like the Irish mist ~ I will miss you constantly

R.I.P Katie – October 2013

This was ‘our’ Katie, the Irish lass with a smile in her words, who brought me and many others so much joy.
‘Katiekins’ ~ I miss you, I love you.  You are at peace now darling and I am sure you are watching over everyone *nods nods*.

Katie was one of our fellow writers on WordPress .  If you knew her and you would like to write something to her daughter Rachel please post on  http://irishkatie.wordpress.com/2013/09/28/this-isnt-goodbye/

xxx

[youtube.com/watch?v=KHSV8igDiEo]irish_ireland_shamrock_flag

The Greatest Loss of All (Prose)

2013-04-19 10.30.36

I’ve lost loves ~ found others

feelings crushed ~ as wine from grapes

but I grew again ~ stronger in the light

of another day

I’ve lost pets ~  finger-tips trace

old photographs and ashes held to chest

I’ve lost grand-parents ~  relatives

across the seas ~  some I never met

I’ve lost jewellery ~ belongings

insignificant

the hardest loss ~  the insurmountable

that sheds the tears the most

the you that I am losing

now ~ ‘Irene’

***************

©jmtacken24/11/2013

The prompt for Mindlovemisery is for my mum.

http://mindlovemisery.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/prompt-31-take-me-back

This is an explanation of the prompt written by MLM :-

Loss of love, friendship, employment, youth we’ve all experienced a sense of longing (even if brief) for the restoration of a relationship, state of being, or situation. Is there anything or anyone you’ve lost? Has hindsight clarified your illusions or created a crippling nostalgia? All forms of media are acceptable. Your entry can be fiction, non fiction, or a combination of the two. My entry is totally fictional and encase there is any confusion the “I” in my poem is male. The loss can be based on choice(s) you’ve made or events that were not within your control but you wish, nevertheless, to alter. You do not have to use the phrase “Take me back” but you are welcome to do so. This prompt comes from an idea given by a very talented writer whom you can visit here Summerstommy

 

**********

Please read Patricks Perspectives which will give you an insight into this disease, sadly Patrick’s dad passed very recently from this and he has now began another journey of dealing with his life and his road ahead.

can you help the ones that cry (Prose from 3 words)

I have side stepped from my ‘evil’ persona for this.  3 words seems to be all the encouragement and inspiration that is required some days. These 3  tears, hope &  shoulder were given to me by summerstommy.com

images-3 images-5

Everybody hurts sometime
~ so the words are sung
to what breadth ~ the one who feels the pain
that cuts into their very breath is the one who truly knows
others (as the bystanders) only see the tears
or the sadness in their eyes that once held hope or joy
the forlorn look across their face, that once held smiles
and what they need is comforting the simplest hug
the kindest word to help alleviate their pain

and cuddles are the smallest things, yet the
happiness they bring ~ immeasurable, contact
with a friend whose strength will see them through
who can ask them how they are and really listen
not just nod as if they understand, when they
themselves confused; to give a little reassurance
that they will smile again and tears will melt away

and what they need is hope 
that what they feel right now will dissipate
that feelings of self worth or loss will lift
that they will have much brighter days
give them your shoulder for they won’t
bear too much weight, only what they carry
deep inside and the full extent of what they feel
won’t be enough to make you crumble…. only them

©jmtacken Sep 2013

 

Still interested in receiving 3 words, if anyone who hasn’t shared cares to do so.

Forgotten in time

[youtube.com/watch?v=3iBCZQezA3E]

A little ambiance….please hit play…listen for a moment…as she sings… read

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

summer heat crackles
reminiscent of parched leaves
crumbled by the sun
back of an old persons hands
whose years have toiled
towards the water
slowly I tread…I tread slowly
wet sand, beneath my feet
soft cool brushes ankles
white skin goose bumps
darker deeper

the veil of cobalt blue
slowly I tread…I tread slowly
into the watery grave
of those that laughed
and cried before me
the remnants of their
chalky bones crushed
with shells I walk upon
disguised in grains of sands

those who spoke of love
as did I, who shed a tear as I
who gazed upon the moon and
watched a shooting star
and danced on wooden floors
dressed in finery
gathered skirts and cotton breeches
slowly I tread…I tread slowly
that went to war

who smiled on wedding days
who mourned at tombstones
girls who bore infants, when they
were but infants themselves
watery grave of those no longer
gather round me
hands reach out and softly
stroke my skin, crying to be
remembered, souls that still exist
souls I shan’t forget
slowly I tread..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was inspired from some words that Tracy at http://tracysite.wordpress.com  had written. I could not let these words go – so thank you Tracy for the inspiration. For the music I thank Miri – my poet mentor at Words From Here To There,  find her work at http://anotherwanderingsoul.wordpress.com.  She introduced me to the exotically sublime voice of Loreena McKennitt.

The moments after

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In those moments
on warm cotton thread sheets
that yield heat into my skin
cozy-ing my slumbered body
when I rouse, not from the pre-set
tune of yesterday or the days before
that sings out from my bedside phone
that disturbs my solitude
the time when daylight says wake up

in those moments, as blinking eyes
flicker, with tears that sting a little
I feel my heart rate quicken
my senses start to stir
the day telling me to begin
listening to my breath for the first time
that day, unlike when I was closed off
in my sleep, when I didn’t hear
the sounds of birds waking in the branches
or the cars out on the highway
or the sheets swish as I moved

in those moments when I spread my hand
across the mattress that we share
to you, who lays next to me
to you, whose sleep is restless
I pause just for a second or maybe two
everything is not real, but it is
as is this morning
the Saturday has fallen once again
I remember the previous
the events, the loss

in those moments as we drive out
in our ‘getting along with life’
when the clock on the dashboard
clicks to 9:30am
I reach and hold your hand
with seven days that have passed
today is as real as last week was
tears well in our eyes
and the clock, as life, continues
9:31am