Standing in an empty hall
in front of a tinselled Christmas tree.
The meal has been shared,
the presents given,
But smiles were forced, laughter hollow,
going through the motions,
because he would have wanted it.
A week ago he was not yet in the ground,
two weeks ago still walking around.
We decorated the tree together.
I joked about how he never did it right
and he laughed, enjoying my teasing.
Everything was normal, everything was fine.
And now, everything has changed.
Between one moment and the next,
a heart stops, a man drops dead.
The funeral horror has come and gone
followed by a hollow Christmas.
And here I stand in an empty hall
in front of a mocking Christmas tree.
Is it a merry Christmas in heaven, Dad?
Because all I can do is wonder,
what happens now?
Author notes
Form? Prose, I guess. What I was trying to convey was that feeling just after someone dies when you are so full up with grief you become numb. It's a transitional moment from life with them to life without them and you're not sure how that life is going to be.
A contest entry
- New Members Contest AUGUST 2007 by AP Greeters.
600 points, ended September 8, 2007, 60 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Pre-Write Mania by Chelsea Void.
600 points, ended October 1, 2007, 26 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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This was fantastic; thought-provoking and heartbreaking, but the words just flowed so easily into phrases and stanzas and I think you represented the feeling of loss and numbness and bleak outlook so very beautifully and effectively.
The title was very clever as well. -
Welcome to Allpoetry
A very fine attempt.. Thankyou for taking time to share it with us in our contest.. Wishing you luck
keep writing..
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To clear up any confusion - I live in Australia and Christmas is in Summer.
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Aawhhhhhhhhhh. I know this trauma. How we 'go on' and still enjoy the things which included them. Ugh....just went through that about 4 years ago.
It brought me closer to my Lord, however, even if I was a little ticked off.
A good poem overall, albeit being led by emotions.
However, please review the criteria as this doesn't exactly meet with the theme of this particular contest.
Should you do any editing, please let us know.
Thank you so much and welcome to the site!
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WELCOME TO ALLPOETRY!
Wow..this was such a great emotional piece. I thought you did a good job with this.
I think you may want to review the contest criteria however as the rules state that it should be a piece about summer. I am not sure this will fit in with the contest rules.
Despair
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