The mullets are jumping in the bay,
up in the air,
up in the air,
on an invisible trampoline.
He smokes inhaling the cigarette,
like a lifeline,
as if it's her
still here beside him.
The ringlets of smoke,
find their way into the clouds.
The reel squeals but
he holds back.
Sunny skies,
but we are gray.
We dance around the conversation,
her absence felt.
Weeks ago she collapsed
like a wounded bird in his arms.
The lobster claws remained untouched
in the ice box.
The football games became
a background noise of a devastating Sunday.
The mullets were in the bait motel,
and he released them,
for her,
for her spirit,
a gesture of love.
He smokes inhaling the cigarette,
like a lifeline,
as if it's her
still here beside him.
The ringlets of smoke,
find their way into the clouds.
The reel squeals but
he holds back.
Sunny skies,
but we are gray.
We dance around the conversation,
her absence felt.
Weeks ago she collapsed
like a wounded bird in his arms.
The lobster claws remained untouched
in the ice box.
The football games became
a background noise of a devastating Sunday.
The mullets were in the bait motel,
and he released them,
for her,
for her spirit,
a gesture of love.
Her spirit remains,
in this home at the edge of the ocean,
where ashes are in a green pouch
waiting to be scattered into a Turquoise ocean.
Framed photographs,
snapshots of happier days,
a life well lived.
Silent thoughts,
a longing heart.
Meet us here, http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
in this home at the edge of the ocean,
where ashes are in a green pouch
waiting to be scattered into a Turquoise ocean.
Framed photographs,
snapshots of happier days,
a life well lived.
Silent thoughts,
a longing heart.
Meet us here, http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
She will always remain, as such wonderful memories were made, that will surely never fade.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat.
Deleteloss is hard...and she will always be there you know...in those simple moments...but in a beautiful way as well as you remember her....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brian. She will live on in our hearts.
DeleteI like the contrasts a lot here, Ayala. I like the feelings coming up against the almost mundane things. So telling: “Weeks ago she collapsed / like a wounded bird in his arms. / The lobster claws remained untouched / in the ice box.” Very nice.
ReplyDelete(By the way, is the picture of the sailboats yours—I mean in terms of being tied in to the feelings of the poem?)
Thank you. Yes, the photo is mine. It all ties in for me because most of our memories were made on these waters.
DeleteOne grieves the demise of a loved one. The person will live in pleasant memories. !
ReplyDeleteHank
Yes, Hank. Thank you.
DeleteThis is ripe with the deep grief of loss, so well conveyed in the specific images of their life together and the event itself. Beautiful and rending.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anna.
DeleteOh Ayala, you capture this sadness so perfectly, but I cry with you on your loss, and as I watch my dog grow older, I don't know how I will handle her passing---
ReplyDeleteThank you, Audrey. This was not about Daisy even though I am still trying to hang in there...this is about my friend Sieg http://asunkissedlife-ayala.blogspot.com/2012/09/goodbye.html. I hope your dog lives a long long life. Hugs.
DeleteLovely and peaceful. This brings to mind the importance of making memories with the living. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Belinda. We never know....
DeleteMakes me want to cry.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laurie. xo
DeleteLoss of any loved one, be they our human loves or pet loves, is sometimes so difficult to let go of. This is a beautiful tribute to your friend. My only though on losing those I've loved oes from knowing, they may be gone but, their love remains with us, constantly in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteYou write so gently, so full of love, made me want to cry too.
Thank you, Bren. They stay in our heart forever.
DeleteNice memoir and memorial. You're so right--we never know.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve. Yes.... We never know.
DeleteSo sad and poignant, I love the way you mixed in all the little, vivid details that bring them both to life on the page. I am sorry for the loss of your friend, this was a beautiful tribute and a touching portrayal of loss.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kelly. Sunday was hard because her absence was felt so much.
DeleteOh, this is just so beautiful and heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteStrong poetry that doesn't fall into sentimentality.
Just....perfect.
Lady Nyo
Thank you, Jane.
DeleteThe contrast is what is often hard--the busy-ness of life going on as if nothing has happened, when so much has changed for the person who knows the loss. Beautiful words, ayala.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joy. I appreciate it.
DeleteThe scene, vivid in detail and imagery, sharpened with the minutia of the ordinary is ever-the sadder because of what is not there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim.
Delete... sometimes hard... loved this reference: "Weeks ago she collapsed
ReplyDeletelike a wounded bird in his arms."
Hard....
DeleteLoss is hard; but even through loss oftentimes the spirit lives on and that can give comfort. For a while I think the snapshots will bring forth sad feelings of the one missed....but eventually they will just be another way that memories are triggered, and hopefully they will be more happy than sad.
ReplyDeleteEventually those snapshots will bring peace...
DeleteEnjoyed visualizing the contrasts/comparisons. Very vivid images. The loss resonates through your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rudri.
DeleteLove it. I love the image of the mullets, the smoke and the spirit rising upwards.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Colleen. :)
DeleteYou should read this when you scatter her ashes. It's lovely and poignant Ayala.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the suggestion Mary.
DeleteAyala, we always have our memories and that is something to hold on to. Life is short, or as we say here, la vida is cortar. Beautiful poem.
ReplyDeletePamela
Thank you, Pamela. True....
Deletethis is why we go to the sea for these moments in life, and death....
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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> < 3 3 3 ( ° >
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Yes...that is why.
DeleteBeautiful and poignant Ayala, daily life is but a backdrop to the feelings that someone is missing, things have changed and yet remain the same. A wonderful poem Ayala.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Di. I appreciate it.
DeleteYou write so beautiful because it comes from beautiful you. Time heals, but sometimes time moves ever so slowly.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa. You are sweet.
Deletefelt pain in this...if the loved one is gone so unexpectedly and only the memories left...so tough...
ReplyDeleteIt is tough....
DeleteAh. Such a sad poem; written with great tenderness. k.
ReplyDeleteAyala, so sweet and sad, made my heart ache. Love those mullets though and what a great phrase "jumping...on an invisible trampoline" that is exactly what it seems like--or if some crazy jolt of electricity just zapped through the water...Thank you for this :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you are, Sara. Yes..they awesome to watch.
DeleteSad. So much pain at the loss.I wonder sometimes how we all cope with this. I know we do in our individual ways. Some better than others.
ReplyDeleteR
Yes...people take loss in different ways...
DeleteImmensely poignant and brilliantly expressed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, James.
Deletehow beautiful and touching
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing your talent Ayala. you moved me with your words and reminded me how precious it is to make everyday you spend with your loved ones a cherished memory :)
Thank you, Hope. We take it for granted because that's how it is but we never know...and everyday is a gift.
DeleteYou captured the sense of the loss so well. Very well written.
ReplyDeleteThank you, AJ.
DeleteThat was quite a touching piece. Loss is so difficult. Great write.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rachel.
DeleteWonderful capturing of a life and what makes up life. Those who pass into and through our moments become part of us that we cannot deny. I love this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beth. It is the little moments that create so much....
DeleteI am so sorry you are grey, loss sometimes feels worse with "sunny skies". Hang in there Ayala, it's still so new.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lauren. I am trying not to be grey....I have you and all those affected by the storm in my thoughts and prayers. xo
Deleteyou always write of life and loss so poignantly.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leslie.
DeleteAyala, I agree with Leslie. You capture loss, love, life beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mel. I hope you are well.
Deleteoh Ayala...how very beautiful. You are a precious soul. I hope you will help me and many others in creating the gratitude quilt this year...I know you are one who feels gratitude deeply...more info re: the quilt at the top of my blog.
ReplyDeleteI am honored to. Thank you, Laura.
Deletesad tale of life! Beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine.
Deletei hope you are having a wonderful weekend ayala...
ReplyDeletesmiles.
You too, Brian. :) Thank you :)
Delete♥ Beautiful and poignant, as always...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helena. Xo
DeleteReally felt this ayala...vivid in description of the loss you're family is experiencing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jen.
DeleteMemories always remain, beautiful piece xox
ReplyDelete