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The Letter

 

painful writing of my last words
brought tears,

memories

she would understand


in life, together

we gathered
our treasured words 

for final composition

the hour of parting came;
devouring

with final statement

my lingering soul

 

words now elevate

memories carefully engraved

as black-white

impressions

healing patience of silence,

a script flows within banks

of treasured writing;

streams reflecting togetherness


now, in collage, wrapped

memories bring reunion

in calligraphy; engraved

as words become heart 

 

 

 

Author notes

A reflection on my last letter to my mother hours before she died.

In a list

A contest entry

Please tell me what you think

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
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Comments

1 - 29 of 29

  • Sandygram
    September 7

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    Very Beautiful and Heartfelt My Friend

    Oh Frans, This touches my heart deeply as I remember the passing of my own mother almost 20 years ago. Thank you for sharing this heart touching poem. May God Bless you always. Hugs to you, Love, Sandy


  • paulcreates silver member
    September 7

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    Beautiful and expressive Frans.
    Well done.
    Paul


  • Cannonsfire
    June 29, 2008

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    Oh Frans this is just beautifully worded and would have given your Mother so much pride to know it came from a son who loved her beyond all else. You make me weep. Love, C


    • FransB gold member
      June 29, 2008
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      Yikes,

      I better get out of here. I have this mannerism to dip when emotions are unexpected. Thanks for reading and replying. As always, bless you. Frans


  • Gwenevere
    April 13, 2008

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    A lovely letter and yet the most important words are often those writtwn between the lines.Of course only a mother would be able to read those as they were for her eyes only.I'm sure she did, Ros


  • myrataal silver member
    April 10, 2008

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    I remember this gentle and sad letter ..

    which I included in KREATIV's publication, GAINED LOSS. There are poems within poems in this letter; and between the lines, the depth of tender recollections and of stringing emotions to sensations in order to heal.

    Definitely a gain, this wondrous write.

    Love
    Myra

  • Seaquince
    April 10, 2008

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    this is lovely written, and I am sure it is best understood and felt only by you... I don't know if it just comes with age or the people we later become, death is very much part of life, yet many of us teach ourselves that it is the saddest moments in our lives, when it should not be, if we can welcome and celebrate life with joy and full acceptance, why not also with death too...?

    you show you great penmanship...just in how you use words that feel...

    • FransB gold member
      April 10, 2008
      Edit | Reply

      true-blue-lies

      Thank you for your comments. Yes, we should celebrate, but just sometimes it is difficult. But by being able to journey with her and my father [they died 13 days of each other] to the end was a wonderful experience. In that - I celebrate. My compliment to you is that I experience you as someone who knows the heart [and also speaks from it]. Thank you for stopping over, I appreciate this very much. Frans

      • Seaquince
        April 10, 2008
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        Frans, I do understand where you are coming from, I think and feel we shelter death too much from the young, each age should witness death so that they can become more aware of lifes process, be less afraid and become acceptable of both the begining and of the end equally, just share different emotions to comfort both heart and mind.
        How many truly weep for their dead, but more for themself, thinking rather them than me... smile! as that comment is not as sad as one might think, cause there too is humour to be found in it...


  • Aesthete2000 gold member
    April 9, 2008

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    Aha! Frans, in this memorable tribute,
    your heart speaks eloquently,
    and I now see your interest
    in the message within
    the message.

    While a treasure for you,
    a spiritual moment, too,
    for all who read.

    Aesthere


  • Jocilynn Destroyed
    January 4, 2008

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    Incredible...

    I am speechless...it is very hard for me to become absolutely speechless after reading a poem. This is amazing, words cannot even begin to tell how I am feeling, all I can say is wonderful job.

    Sincerely,
    Jocilynn


  • Nicolette gold member
    November 25, 2007

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    "Treasured threshold of lasting memories
    when in flight locked words are unfolded."

    Those last lines linger in my eyes. A beautiful, gentle reflection on a life, on sacred memories. I can so associate with this. My father died on the 23rd April 1999 and I was there when he died - it was sudden and unexpected, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity to share in his last moments. This letter is written with the soft chalk of a son's heart... a beautiful and meaningful tribute to a mother.

    ~ Nicolette


  • SilverRain
    November 9, 2007

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    I am very sorry about your mother, I do hope you find something to ease your mind even jsut a little bit, God bless you friend, and great poem


  • Lady Ireland gold member
    October 18, 2007

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    i love the vocabulary of this poem, it is very meaningful. Your love for her burst from each and every verse. I was lucky enough to hold the hands of both my parents as they passed. I think it brave for you to write this at the time of her actual passing...I would have crumbled!

    I didn't know what to expect when i read you title, The i remembered the date today. It was weird for me because it's my mums anniversary. It was lovely to read into your soulful reveries.
    I bet she is proud of you, she will always be with you Frans.

    Today is the 19th oct, my mothers anniversary, she is passed 6yrs now. to me it's like last week. i still feel her near me.
    Good luck and God bless
    xxxxxx

    • FransB gold member
      October 19, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      I appreciate your kind words. My mom's birthday is [was] 2 October. Reading your comments struck a thread in my heart, and I now again realise that I miss her very much. I did not 'clean out' her things immediately. It was extremely difficult for me. But I also wanted it to linger a little longer so I could smell her presence. Stupid some may say, but I did me good. Now four years after their deaths [13 days apart], someone stole my cel with her last message to me in reply to my letter - her words: "God bless, mom", will however for always live in my heart. Frans.

      Ps
      Did you notice the hidden stanza in the words that are italics and read from the beginning to the end of the poem?


  • Devils Reject
    August 16, 2007
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    this is beautiful. its sad and sweet all at once. you keep wowing me with everything i read!


  • DeadlyTurnip
    August 16, 2007

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    Lovely free verse. (Assuming this is free verse.) The flow could've been a bit better, but the overall poem was very good.


    • FransB gold member
      August 16, 2007
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      DeadlyTurnip

      Thanks for the comment - every bit helps to assure better writing of poems.


  • Alikilie
    July 30, 2007

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    Thank you for entering my contest, You may very well be the person who changed my mind on free verse!

  • FransB gold member
    July 29, 2007
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    leo2

    Thanks for taking time to read the poem - and more so the comments. Our moms have called it a day - so we can both walk with noses in the air [and still give each other credit - only me will be the lil'brother as I need mentors!]. I could not be at my moms death bed, but by my father's - I have a poem about this experience too. Great to have met you - I will be reading your poems, as I have added you to my favourites.


  • leo2
    July 29, 2007

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    I wish I had had the opportunity to say goodbye but she passed too quickly. 'The Letter' is a carbon copy of the way I felt about her only more elegant than I could ever put in verse. Photographs and memories and maybe a verse on special occasions are all that remain. Perhaps our Moms kibitz over which son is the best poet now..lol.

    Sincerely,
    Leo Long


  • Restless heart
    July 17, 2007
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    A stream of precious memories reflecting our togetherness, wonderful I like this work Thanks

    • FransB gold member
      July 18, 2007
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      Restless heart

      Had a quick look at your profile, and then noticed your poem titles. I am going straight there now! Thanks for your sincere comment.


  • cognitivedistortion
    July 17, 2007

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    wow, very beautiful and original. I liked the verse (form). You can't really say anything bad about a poem like this, or you'll end up looking like a jerk. Fortunately for both of us, there's nothing bad to say.


  • Cynthia Gaines gold member
    July 17, 2007
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    Very clever!!!

    I've learned something here tonight... and I wouldn't change the title if I were you. The Letter stands on its own. Your mother would be proud of her letter from such a loving son.

  • Cynthia Gaines gold member
    July 16, 2007

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    A Unique Poem...

    This is an amazingly deep piece; a wonderfully sentimental and a very heart-and-soul felt letter. One point I'd like to mention is, the text was really hard for me to read, it being yellow. Maybe it was due to the light-blue background? I'm curious to know why half of the last lines in each stanza were highlighted in bold... just wondering... Otherwise, I found it to be original, touching, and poignant. I always appreciate the honest emotions that spill out onto the page when a subject bares their soul... Very well done!!! Peace, Cyn

    • FransB gold member
      July 17, 2007
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      FransB

      Dear Rose of Ireland - you held your word, and I see you back at work - after this I am on my way to work! I'll change the background - testing what works and what does not work! If you re-read the poem to the end and then again, but only the highlighted last lines of each stanza, then it gives one more message!

  • FransB gold member
    July 9, 2007
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    Not sure how to change the title - as the contents reflects on my letter of 'good-bye' to my mother hours before her death


  • damned-bullet
    July 9, 2007
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    WOW-ness

    That is so cool. I love the first line, and the second line of the second stanza... I love the last line too... Carefully engraved on black-white stained impression sounds cool... Gawd, when I read it, I felt so emo... It was so nice, I love the wordplay... But the title doesn't fit... Maybe if you can change that... Haha, nice poem though!

1 - 29 of 29