Holding hands
with my mother
fading embers in my father’s eyes
become a flicker once more.
Few words spoken
they would be superfluous.
Wordless dialogue
but heartfelt exchange
echoes through this chamber
at the threshold
of his exit door.
Fifty-four years traversing,
journeying together,
spawning
profound understandings
of complex and deep
simplicity.
This is life
this is death
this is love
forever.
Copyright © Henri Ferguson 2003
Author notes
During one of my father’s final days we watched as the nurses lifted him from his bed to a chair. While this was happening my father, unable to speak took a pen from the nurse’s pocket and motioned for a piece of paper. I gave him my journal. With a weathered and shaking hand he scrawled across the page “I love you”, and then pointed at my mother. A heart searing moment that precipitated these words.
Written June 22nd, 2003
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Oh my what a true blessing of love indeed
I know exactly what you mean for I to knew and felt this love from my mom and dad who have passed . My mom I truly through her last moments of life walked her to heavens gate and as I let go and her eyes rested on me she received the most beautiful shine upon her face and her very appearance so relaxed and loved I knew he had taken her hand she was free from all the pain. And her last words were I love you more .
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Henri, this is such a beautifully moving tribute - to your father, to the love he and your mother shared, to the energizing, uplifting, strengthening effect which true love can have, in even the darkest circumstances. You've kept the wording simple, but the meaning runs so deep, and you graciously permit us a glimpse of this moment between two people who love each other and whom you love. I began to cry by the end of the first verse, tears falling hard by the end of the final verse, which is so all-encompassing. How blessed a life has been if it has been lived well, and been enriched and altered by such love, and for you to write with such clarity on your insight under such circumstances, makes both their love, and your love, and your gift truly exceptional. This memory surely will forever bring you peace, despite the threshold which was later, too soon crossed.
I have not the words... but my tears have finally dried, as I dwell on the miracle of a love such as you describe. Thank you. -
Sigh....such a beautiful recollection of your father...You truly do him proud with every poem, every recollection of memory, just being the man that you are. You are a celebration of life for your father and irreplaceable... thank you for being able to share with us!
Sarah -
If the poem doesn't get you...the story will. That is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. What a lovely memory to cherish and relive. He's left you on hell of a legacy, mate. Knowing what little I do, I reckon he's rather pleased with you. Beautiful isn't really an adequate word, but I don't know that there is an adjective that would do this any justice. You said it best, really... "wordless dialogue
but heartfelt exchange"
x x TM -
beauty
Says so much. Very moving. It's all about love, has been, always will be!
Keep Feelin' Fascination,
~Tiffany~ -
wow...just that...simply "wow"
thank you for this poem
Victoria xxXxx -
Oh wow... this is so touching... I can feel the pain and heartache here... very intense emotions. Painful poem, but very well done... this touched me.
my grandparents were married 50 years... i miss them both
Hugs,
~ Wendy -
Your poem shows the most love I have ever read, love between child and parents...it is a soft and gentle read...this is a love I think I have been searching all my life for...a forever love as you called it...now older and wiser...I sit back a weave my life for myself...not looking...for if it is to happen...it will find me...wonderful poem...as you see , it made me think...thanks for sharing
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the beauty in true love.
What your parents had was rare and beautiful..
I can tell from your words.
soulmates all the way to the end.
You know when it is love when two poeple and share a moment
without speaking and at that moment would be the most powerful moment in time ever.
Yvonne:) -
Seems nothing more that i could add that the previous comments have not already said...
but the beauty and emotion of this piece pulled at my heart so deeply...this is the kind of moment we dream of...see in movies...hope for in our lives...
Love that transcends all...love that never ends...i'm moved
UB
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The touching simplicity of this poem is like the shedding of tears in loneliness...the feeling of despair...the knowledge that we cannot do anything but love and feel for the pain of others......
I have been crying.....thank you for sharing,
Maria -
Your ability to make such personal moments full of universal understandings is a talent that few posess. Beautiful, tender write. You are a sensitive soul.
~Angela -
OMG this poem almost makes me cry with all its heartbreaking
emotions in such few but powerful and wellchosen words. Having a
love like your parents is truly something precious. In fact if I
could make one wish I'd wish for me to find a love like that. What
a moment... Thank you ever so much for sharing it with me!
Jen
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Dearest H.
so tremendously sorry to hear your father passed away. please know, as always, as ever, you are in my thoughts/prayers/meditations along with the rest of your family...a beautiful tribute to your father, my friend... -
Henri...you are a fortunate man to have had that experience & even more so, because you were aware enough to catch the moment for the awesome artful message it contained...not all have the eyes to see or appreciate these messages...I am blessed by your blessing of it.
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Incredible!
You know Henri, I just had to come back and read this. I actually was telling a friend about it yesterday. While this may not be quite epic in words it defines an epic tale of love. The story unfolds in my mind and leaves me desperately wanting "this" kind of love. Simple, yet complex on so many levels. Then again, true love is like that eh? I live, breathe, dream and search for these moments - thank you for sharing yours. For a brief moment in time I was able to live vicariously through your story.
It is not often I find myself moved in this way. All I can say is that I am deeply appreciative of this poem.
Respectfully ~ Brian -
Everlasting beauty
What a wonderful, full-cycled exit line - written by Love itself! Although the body may whither away, the soul sees Eternity - yes: "this is love forever" ...
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Thank you, Henry, for sharing these intimate moments - a sacred write.
Kindest Regards,
Myra -
Very powerful words Henri...seems to be an acceptance
through the pain...an acceptance of the continuation of life
( and love )....deeply expressive as always....emotive
poignant words that paint a very intense picture...
Loved these lines :
" wordless dialogue
but heartfelt exchange
echoes through this chamber " ....
Sort of sums up what love is to me...reminds me of that little
expression...when love is present no need for a word for even
in silence it can always be heard...or words to that effect
( my memory seems to be getting progressively worse ) !
Anyway , You'll know what I mean...not something that always
has to be verbalised...
Thought this was beautiful. Thoughts are with you
~ sonia ~ X -
wordless dialogue
but heartfelt exchange
echoes through this chamber
at the threshold
of his exit door
These are beautiful words Henri. Watching a loved one wither away is never easy... you've described a very personal moment so well. I thank you for sharing this - take care. Helen -
A deep and abiding love cannot be contained. It has to surface and be expressed. And your father proved this, Goz is right...How lucky they were..and how lucky you were to have seen it's example.
A touching tribute, softly spoken.
Maddie -
two lucky people
to have such a love just once
in a lifetime....
one lucky son
to have seen its example
beautiful thoughts. -
Thank you for sharing your Dad's last words to your Mother, Henri. Very moving! Love that never ends...how truly wonderful that is! Love is the only security we have, but it is enough!
< 3 Maureen
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oh my, this is such a beautiful story! It is very sad, to lose a love like this, but very rarely can one find a love like this to begin with. Oh, this makes my heart feel good...and full of hope...beautifully written
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Now this is love .. the kind that never dies .. the flame eternal! One day I also hope to experience the divine purity of love such as this. Moving, Powerful and Captivating write .. straight from the heart and full of emotions! BRAVO Henri, BRAVO .. only real life could breed such wonderful words ~ Respectfully, Brian
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Henri, words cannot express the magnitude of such a moment. I get a lump in my throat when I read your words, tears fall when thinking of even a minute of those lives, and i cannot conceive of the feelings you must have had as you stood there. The love of this son for his parents is boundless, his memories are painted with soft strokes of endless love and affection. I am in awe of the gifts these two people must have endowed you with, I hope the woman you love revels in it.
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Outstanding as always
Henri
You possess such a dear and fragrantly gentle heart...the love of your parents created a beautiful and dear fragile, strong yet sensitive man....who can express himself on paper like no one i know!
Edited on Jun 22, 8:30 p.m. because ''.
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