Thank you, Alan. Sadly, it is an experience that many will have. I remember being at my grandmother’s house as a young child when she received news of her sister’s death. It’s the first time I witnessed raw grief as the devastating news was absorbed.
Both my mothers died within 14 days of each other, I was there with one, but not the other. As both undertakers, one supposedly highly experienced, and one relative novice, one of my last duties as a son was to assist the undertakers who were struggling with my very light 5 foot mom for some reason, so at least I managed that last gesture of dignity for her.
mother’s sepsis…
I help the undertakers
wrap her away
Alan Summers
Human/Kind Journal of Topical & Contemporary Japanese Short-forms & Art
Issue 1.1 January 2019 editor-in-chief Robin Anna Smith
From “The Green Lady” ekphrastic haibun
.
the undertaker’s
awkwardness
butterflies are dying
as I help wrap her
in a winding sheet
Alan Summers
The Right Touch of Sun
2017 Tanka Society of America Members’ Anthology
ed. Margaret Dornaus and David Terelinck
.
It also took a very long time for my mom's raw grief to 'settle', a year or so, where I was by her side through the terrible grieving process.
Hi Alan. Sometimes comments get held for moderation by our automated anti-spam filters. If a comment contains links or if it's very long, it's more likely to be held. If that happens, your comment won't appear until a moderator (me) approves it — which can take a few days or sometimes a couple of weeks.
It's happened twice, at least, with a long composed comment, both times I hadn't made a draft copy alas. No response. There's rarely a reply from Dylan or the editors, sadly.
As there were no weblinks of any kind, just words about my own experience with both my mothers dying with 14 days, and two poems, I was surprised.
If it's live people or bots they can have strange reasons, as myself and friends had with a live G***le person who obvious had no real idea of poetry or any creativity. We eventually persuaded him not to block our friend who is an amazing human, poet, and artist, amongst many things!
July 26th, 2023 at 2:35 am
early phone call
I watch grief claim
my mother’s face
—Marion Clarke
A powerful haikai verse showing we can touch on devastating moments and not seek to avoid them in our poetry.
Alan
July 26th, 2023 at 3:16 am
Thank you, Alan. Sadly, it is an experience that many will have. I remember being at my grandmother’s house as a young child when she received news of her sister’s death. It’s the first time I witnessed raw grief as the devastating news was absorbed.
marion
July 26th, 2023 at 4:52 am
Dear Marion,
Both my mothers died within 14 days of each other, I was there with one, but not the other. As both undertakers, one supposedly highly experienced, and one relative novice, one of my last duties as a son was to assist the undertakers who were struggling with my very light 5 foot mom for some reason, so at least I managed that last gesture of dignity for her.
mother’s sepsis…
I help the undertakers
wrap her away
Alan Summers
Human/Kind Journal of Topical & Contemporary Japanese Short-forms & Art
Issue 1.1 January 2019 editor-in-chief Robin Anna Smith
From “The Green Lady” ekphrastic haibun
.
the undertaker’s
awkwardness
butterflies are dying
as I help wrap her
in a winding sheet
Alan Summers
The Right Touch of Sun
2017 Tanka Society of America Members’ Anthology
ed. Margaret Dornaus and David Terelinck
.
It also took a very long time for my mom's raw grief to 'settle', a year or so, where I was by her side through the terrible grieving process.
sincerest regards,
Alan
July 26th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
That was stressful but delighted that my post and comment has now been accepted.
kind regards,
Alan
July 26th, 2023 at 4:53 am
Dear Marion,
Sadly tinywords wouldn't publish my response,
Alan
July 26th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Hi Alan. Sometimes comments get held for moderation by our automated anti-spam filters. If a comment contains links or if it's very long, it's more likely to be held. If that happens, your comment won't appear until a moderator (me) approves it — which can take a few days or sometimes a couple of weeks.
July 26th, 2023 at 2:31 pm
Thanks Dylan,
Okay, though I've had others never posted, and wordpress is more and more difficult to post comments at other sites, sadly.
kind regards,
Alan
July 26th, 2023 at 8:49 am
😳 That’s odd, Alan! Have you been given a reason or is it one of these bots that decides what’s acceptable or not?
marion
July 26th, 2023 at 9:07 am
It's happened twice, at least, with a long composed comment, both times I hadn't made a draft copy alas. No response. There's rarely a reply from Dylan or the editors, sadly.
As there were no weblinks of any kind, just words about my own experience with both my mothers dying with 14 days, and two poems, I was surprised.
If it's live people or bots they can have strange reasons, as myself and friends had with a live G***le person who obvious had no real idea of poetry or any creativity. We eventually persuaded him not to block our friend who is an amazing human, poet, and artist, amongst many things!
Alan
July 26th, 2023 at 11:26 am
Powerful poem, Marion. You evoke your sense of your mother's grief vividly.