By Lorraine Walker Williams
Southwest Florida Branch
Dying is the art we have to master. It seems to say—not death;
Late love settles into us as spring romances never could.
—Exhibition Notes SFMOMA
A full moon slips from dark clouds
to break night from its grip
like a last breath, a gasp and release.
Death is a trickster, a tease,
imminent, then it pulls back,
fills a corner of the room
ready to consume what’s left
after last words are spoken.
When I learned that you had died,
death consumed me. I became still,
sat with it, staring into the room,
blinded by sorrow. This surprised me.
Surrounded by reminders of our life together,
I remembered our first conversation about touch,
the need for connection when you live alone.
I wanted to touch what had meaning for us;
a map of early San Francisco, the reclaimed
table we chose for our First Anniversary,
the framed painting above the bed.
I did not shed a tear until my fingers slid along
the glass hummingbirds; one found in Aspen,
the other your Valentine gift, saying the bird
needed a mate. Tears streaked my cheeks,
a release.
This morning, in fading moonlight, tears brim,
shedding into the black hole of absence as I write.
So, I wrap myself in the shawl of memory,
settling into the loss of late life love.
I can’t shake the feeling you are gone.
Your expressed thoughts are stunningly beautiful. So touching, so true. I am sure your gift has touched many.
Patricia,
Your comment means a great deal to me. Thank you.
This is such a beautiful and touching poem. I had the joy of having a late in life love. His loss to me is exquisitely expressed. Thank you, Lorraine!
Dear Sharon,
Thank you for your lovely comments. Yes, we felt the joy of late life romance and its loss.
Such a tender, tearful memory of a special person. I have felt this too as I lost my husband. THanks.
Dear Christina,
I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your comment.
Very moving. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comment.
Exquisitely tender, beautifully composed. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Brenda. I appreciate your comments.
You wrote the results of my 2020 story and how I am dealing with it today.
Thank you Darlene. I hope in some small way this helps.
Lorraine, you are a beautiful writer; you capture your grief so poignantly that the reader feels your pain…and identifies with pain of their own, and still not losing their empathy with you. Thank you for being such a ‘touching’ poet.
Lois, thank you for your heartfelt reply.