1996 was the year, December 24th was the day
my sister, Mary, passed away.
I hadn't seen her for a very long while,
I heard her voice but I missed her smile.
I talked to her often on the phone,
I didn't want her to feel alone.
She had breast cancer which had spread,
she was confined to a hospice bed.
But she made sure that I would see
the presents she carefully picked for me.
When I opened the boxes the mailman brought,
I knew she gave them a lot of thought.
There were woolen socks for my 'always cold' feet
and a book by a woman I'd love to meet.
She wrote essays for every day of the year...
my sister's message was very clear!
"This book that you've received from me
will help you to be the best you can be.
If you read each day what it has to say,
it will guide each step along your way."
My very favorite present of all...
angels I placed upon the wall.
Arms entwined, side by side;
the sight of them still fills me with pride!
The angels represent to me
sisters joined eternally.
Defeating the sorrow of death's pain,
together forever we shall remain.
Maureen Halasovski - January 19, 2008
Author notes
My sister's birthday was January 20th. I didn't think of it until I entered today's date.
A contest entry
- CONTEST #27 FOR HUGH WYLES FAVORITES ONLY! by huguenauties.
750 points, ended January 29, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Dear Maureen, I'm so sorry you lost your Sister, but it's great that she gave you such wonderful gifts.
The angel picture sounds beautiful.I love Angels.
Love Hine XOXOXOXO
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Thank you, Hine!
I love angels, too. The angels weren't a picture..it was a figurine of two angels. One has her arm around the other's shoulder and the other one has her arm around the other's waist and they're each holding a holy water font (which reminds me..I have to get holy water to put in it). I was really touched by it..it means a lot to me.
Love, Maureen XOXOXOX
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Dear Maureen,
Your Sister must have been a wonderful lady and a very caring Sister. What wonderful gifts she gave you to remember her by. And I'm sure she's still watches over you where ever she is. A beautiful poem Maureen.
Jen.
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Thank you, Jen!
<3 Maureen
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That's pretty special, not only the gift but the thought your sister put behind it. I lost my older brother a couple years ago and his wife gave me some of his clothes. Wool socks were among them, lots and lots, and I work outside often so I know how those can be useful...and whenever I put them on, I think of him, not that I think he was a foot or anything.
Your entry is similar to Angelica's in one say...you both explore material objects as symbols to stay close to your loved one.
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Thank you, Yem!
Sorry to hear you lost your brother such a short time ago. I wish my sister's daughter had thought to give me some of my sister's clothes. We were the same size and I would have loved to have them. She had good taste in clothes. When my mother passed away the year before, she helped me pick out something to wear to the funeral.
<3 Maureen
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This is very beautiful Maureen, I have tears. Your sister's gifts are so significant, for your body, mind and spirit. This is the best of life in a family, even when you lose one, the love remains.
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Thank you for your lovely comment, Margaret. I'm happy you pointed out the significance of my sister's gifts.. reaffirming my strong belief that, to the very end, she was doing her best to meet my needs.
<3 Maureen
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Dear Maureen,
I know the feeling of losing a sibling, as I lost my Brother in 1986 from a heart attack.I remember talking to him on the phone (1200 miles away) and he sounded so well, next morning he died.My other Brother and I had to break the news to Mum because he was her baby.
They were wonderful gift's your Sister gave you, ones to be cherished forever.And I see it would've been her Birthday.
Beautifully written my dear Soul/Sister.
Love Joan
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Thank you, Joan. Sorry to hear you lost your Brother so long ago. I talked to my sister on the phone the day before she died and she sounded okay. I told her I was going to make the long trip to see her. That seemed to upset her. I think she knew we wouldn't be seeing each other again. I have two other Sisters but Mary and I were closest in age. I always wanted to be like her..she was much more outgoing than I am (and was very good at picking 'just the right gift'). I do cherish the gifts she gave me..especially because they were the last ones.
Love you, my sweet Soul/Sister,
Maureen
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Dear Maureen,
When, irretrievably, a loved one's lost,
no other can equate the awful cost.
Condolences in no way can replace
the void that's left nor fill the empty space.
Only with time those who are left regain
some semblance of relief from constant pain
and, though it never does entirely ease,
it's soothed by happy, loving memories.
And so, as year succeeds each passing year,
the loss gets slightly easier to bear.
~~~
Having last year lost my own sister to cancer, I am deeply touched by your beautiful poem.
I did not know of your sister's death, dear friend, and I am heartily sorry to learn of it. It is, however, my firm and unshakable belief that, when our own time comes, we will be reunited with the spirits of those we love wherever they may be. This faith makes the losses, not lighter, but more endurable.
Thankyou for your touching non-entry.
Applause, love and hugs, XXX Hugh (R.)
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Dear Hugh,
Very sorry that you so recently lost your Sister to cancer, which seems to claim more and more people every day. Thank you for the beautiful poem you wrote. You are very good at picking 'just the right words' to say..every word rings true. I sometimes dream about my Sister but I wish I wouldn't. Dreams seem so 'real' and it's always disturbing to wake up and realize that is the only way we can communicate until it's my time to pass away.
Love and Hugs,
Maureen
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beautiful~
This is sad,beautiful and heart touching as well
It bought tears to my eyes as I read this one sis..
I would keep the socks forever..as I know you have the pic of the angels....
I know this made you sad and wistful as you penned this poem as well..bless your heart...
I am so happy you had sisters...that is one things I always wanted..brothers and sisters..but the one wish I never got...
Except I have them here on AP and you mean as much to me as real blood sister...
This would definitely be a winner in my book if I were judging this contest..
I may by pass this contest...never got a present I didn't like...
Up early....its 9:02am and heading back to bed....it's 20 degrees...I am covering up and getting warm
Love this and love you too
Love the background and border in this poem too
Hugs
Your sis
Susan~~~
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Thank you, Sis!
I have kept those last presents from my sister. The angels weren't a picture..it was a figurine of two angels. One has her arm around the other's shoulder and the other one has her arm around the other's waist and they're each holding a holy water font (which reminds me..I have to get holy water to put in it). I was really touched by it..it means a lot to me. The book is special to me, too. I've read it often. It's called "Simple Abundance..A Daybook of Comfort and Joy" by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It's a hard cover book with an attached ribbon to place in the last page I read. The contest is for either the best or the worst present you ever received. I figured most entries would be about the best presents ever received. Thank you for your nice comment, Sis. I'm headed back to bed myself. I was up late writing this poem and finding an appropriate pic' so I could use some more sleep.
Love,
Maureen
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