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The cradle swung empty.

Missing image

It was cold

that January morning in 1984

and it hasn't been warm since.

 

 

 

 

I awoke everyday for

those fifteen weeks and thought of you.

 

 

 

 

I Chose your names,

bought booties, cardigans and a cradle,

I planned your life.

 

 

 

Then on that morning of the sixteenth

I got out of bed,

stood up,

 

 

 

Red.                             

Alert!

 

 

 

I tried to hold you back

but you came.

 

 

I held you in my hands...

 

 

 

And you slipped through

my fingers.

 

 

The cradle swung empty.

Author notes

This was my first of four lost babies,
i had two misscarriages and carried the others until nearly full term.

I now have five children living and one grandson, so yeah, god give them back and give me an extra one for being good.

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A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 20 of 20

  • slipperssun gold member
    May 27, 2008

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    it is beautiful that you got yours back again and one extra. i had twins just after i lost my son and mother and believe that i got them both back at once...
    cheers
    jen


  • daviscth silver member
    May 19, 2008
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    This is an amazing heart felt piece overflowing with love. Thank you so much for sharing with me.


  • Entwining Beauty
    April 3, 2008

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    so sad, very emotionally wrote it's made me cry I don't understand that part of life why god take such small life away after giving it to you in the first place.maybe it's a test to see if your ready I am not sure, Other than my personal feeling your poem was simply amazing apart from it being so sad and making me want to cry. good luck in the contest


  • leander Moderators member
    February 18, 2008

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    This is a very deep, emotional and personal poem that you have written here. I'm sorry to hear you've lost four babies must have been aweful each time.

    I like the alliteration you have used here and there. Well done!
    Leander


  • Cannonsfire
    January 28, 2008

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    I truly do know how it felt and I am glad God thought to give you back an extra, though it never takes from the loss you feel as a mother and a woman. Love, Chez


  • forever dreaming
    October 24, 2007

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    This poem has left me with such a lump in my throat that I had to go away and come back before commenting on it. So, now that I have regained my composure. You have written in things that almost every woman thinks of when she finds out she is preganant. My babies were the first thing on my mind every morning and last thing every night until they were taken from me. I llike the fact that the poem is short and punchy, it really adds to the overall effect of the peice without being over the top. The only thing that I think sort of throws it of slightly is the red alert bit. I don't know, I think the reader could gain the same image if you left it out. It's telling us something that we could possibly already gain from your next lines. However that is merely my opinion. I also love the last part of the poem. It was what gave me the real lump in my throat. Many thanks for entering my contest and I wish you luck xxx


    • Lady Ireland gold member
      October 24, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you forever dreaming for your kind comment,
      I am delighted to have won the gold for this poem. i know it has certainly packed a punch but not have as heavey as it was back then. I do like to be a little raw in my writing, it's shows the true poet i think, some people fear to go there (I did once) but tell it as it is.

      I know what you are saying about the (Red. Alert!) I found it hard to errase, you see i told the story as it happen to me. When i stood up that morning i had a litttle cramp then i felt the heat of the blood and the first thing i saw was red...then the alert came of misscarriage. i hope this will help explain why i kept those words in.

      Thank you again for your comment, it means alot to me. congratulations to all the other winners. this was a very thearputic exercise and it was a good challenge.
      Slán Dolores xxxxxxxxx

  • slipperssun gold member
    October 12, 2007
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    i love the way you see your children and coming back again just a little later... may happiness travel your way always. good luck in the contest
    cheers
    jen


  • Angel Of Heaven99
    October 12, 2007

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    wow, very sad and emotional. I am sorry for your loss. I really liked reading this although the sadness ripped through me. Many hugs!


  • Sanity-Day10
    October 11, 2007

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    There is so much said in so little, and no word is wasted. The title/last line is just amazing, it's so hurt with love and sadness and everything all thrown in there. I can't even describe it with half the greatness you put in.


  • nobodys looking
    October 11, 2007

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    very moving write. I reall like the lines i held you in my hands and you sliped through my fingers.


  • storiesuntold gold member
    October 11, 2007
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    This is so sad and blessed as you say at the same time

    A very heartfelt write here


  • nightciris
    October 11, 2007

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    I like the word choice in this poem, as it is concise and paints a stark image—startling, but not offensively so. The breaks surrounding "Red. Alert!" I found to be off-putting; perhaps if "Alert!" were thrown onto the next line? Personal preference, I suppose.

    Emotionally, this wedged deep inside my chest. Both oyour opening and closing lines are well chosen, which I think is incredibly important for any style of poetry. With three words you set the tone and with four create a haunting ending, with a sense of continuity. I am sorry for your losses, but writing is cathartic, I think. And you have clearly been blessed since.


  • Artistic-Soul
    October 11, 2007

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    i am so sorry for your losses

    this is a touching and soulful piece and i feel honored to have been allowed to read it

    it was so full of emotion it just drew me in and punched me in the stomache with this blast of tragedy and it almost hurts to read it

    the power of such emotion is overpowering and it is the most increadible thing about this poem

    this is just increadible

    thank you for sharing it


  • Lavender Butterfly silver member
    October 11, 2007

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    Powerful, emotional and heartfelt. A deeply grasping piece of personal life, written with expression and meaning. Thanks so much for sharing... x Love and light, ButterflySecrets.


  • awannabepoet
    October 11, 2007

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    The things that were and could never be, it is with much sorrow that one has to accept that life isn't always fair, sometimes its even filled with despair and that is not how it should be.

    Live life as best you can for in the end it is all in the hands of the allmighty and his guiding light will bring you safely home perhaps one day you will hold her tight in your arms and never will she slip away again.

    I like it, I like it so.


  • Mr E
    October 11, 2007

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    "I held you in my hands...

    And you slipped through
    my fingers."

    What three powerful lines. It really brought me to despair. Kudos on what you've overcome, and also on the resultantly moving poem. As always, a pleasure to read you again.


  • Cynthia Gaines gold member
    October 10, 2007

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    This is a very real, emotionally provoking, heart-and-soul-felt poem. I felt (and heard) your heart strings tenderly crying, as they reached in vain to hold onto their loved one, as the very soul of life slipped away... I wish you all the love a woman deserves in her life, and more. I enjoyed reading this beautiful, award-winning poem. Peace and Love, Cyn


  • seamaiden
    October 10, 2007

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    This is very moving and I do not personally know the feeling of a mother's loss as I don't have children of my own. I've seen the effects on family members and my heart goes out for all. You said something so beautiful in your author notes. He has blessed you with five children and now grandchildren starting. His return for the loss you had to endure. I'm glad you didn't give up and treasure all of them, those living and the memories of the others. Loving wishes. seamaiden ♥

  • Starz of Heaven gold member
    October 9, 2007

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    This is such a sad piece.Im sorry for your loss.There is no worst pain.Thank you for sharing your heart with me.Much love

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