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Death of Joan

Illness sapped her final breath.
Propriety and Christian faith
deemed that, as she lay beneath
and even though their grief was fresh,
no tears would fall upon her wreath.

The tempo of life must stay in stride
so keep your welling tears inside.
Complete composure must abide.

Author notes

Joan was my aunt, a lovely person whom I had only met once before her death in the early '70s. In that family, it was not considered proper to weep openly at funerals and I hear that my grandmother enforced this lack of emotion.

I am so glad times have changed and I think Joan could have used a few tears.

October 4, 2009

The Run for the Cure is on today and since Joan died of breast cancer, I decided to feature this poem on my page.

RIP, Joan. You were so good to me, long ago.

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 6 of 6
  • ea silver member
    November 18
    ?
    Edit | Reply
    The rhyming gives this a good tempo. As a New England puritan, I can relate to this.

    • Judith Chandler
      November 22
      ?
      Edit | Reply
      It was hard on the children in that family when they were discouraged from showing their natural feelings. Caused some problems later on, I do believe.

      Thank for your comments.


  • spiritraven
    May 5
    Edit | Reply

    Very emotional

    You have honored your Aunt and you have cried for her with your tears.
    Thank you and good luck in my contest


  • Erik Ambrose gold member
    February 22

    Edit | Reply
    I enjoyed this straight away - The title is simple,
    and for that reason think it's very good. I suppose
    I find that people often try to hard with titles,
    and it can detract from the contents of the poem.
    I believe the poem could stand well with just
    the first stanza. However, "the tempo of life"
    holds a lot of importance to the feel of this; I
    think working that into the first stanza and
    omitting the last would help. Aside from that
    thought, I really enjoyed this. Thank you -- honestly.


  • Bad Bill
    February 21

    Edit | Reply
    This is not only very well-written, but it's also a moving depiction of death and one family's reaction to it. I have encountered such bottled-up emotions and "stiff upper lip" composure myself, so I know what you mean. Excellent poem.

    Bill

1 - 6 of 6