When I leave you for a little while
Please do not grieve and shed wild tears
And hug the sorrow to you through the years
But start out bravely with a gallant smile.
And for my sake and in my name
Live on and do all things the same.
Feed not your loneliness on empty days
But fill each waking hour in useful ways.
Reach out your hand in comfort and cheer
And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near.
And never, never be afraid to die
For I am waiting for you in the sky.
Anon
Thankyou. I love this sentiment, I read it and the words that popped into my mind were āI am trying Johnā. My days donāt seem great but some are easier than they were and now I know that is ok.
I could almost imagine those words being spoken to me by my wife, other than the final two lines. It almost feels personal. I imagine her speaking it as an insistent suggestion.
Thanks for sharing. It hit the spot.
Good āmourningā YorkshireLad,
Iāve just finished reading āThe Smoke Jumperā and yes, a love story but much more. Youāll find the poem at the very end of chapter 23. It never fails to move meā¦
That must be synchronicity. Iām away in the Lakes at the moment. I read the first half last time I was away and finished it last night. I thought it was interesting that it made the point had Ed written it or found it elsewhere. Did Nicholas Evans write it?? or did he find it.
I thought the poem fitted well to the events of the solicitors letter.
It was a big story and although the end was predictable the rest of it wasnāt.
Yes, I wondered about the true author of the poem too. I agree the end was predictable but I do love a happy ending especially now, in our present state of mind. My heart did falter though when Connor finally found them in Africa, I thought for one terrible moment that Amy had died.
Have a good time in the Lakes YorkshireLad x
That is so lovely
Itās a long time since this thread saw the light of day. Itās just possible that someone may find solace here. Hopefully someone feels an urge to add to the thread.
Heartbreak emoji x
I thought Iād have a read through and some of these poems are like arrows to the heart. Why do I have this need to do this to myself. Maybe to check Iām still fully functioning as a human.
My personal favourite, that I return to often, is on Page 3. Itās taken from a book called the Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans.
Thank you YL for reminding us of the poem and Kate for the original post, I missed it first time round.
It is a beautiful poem that brought tears to my eyes .
Yesterday I walked alone in some woods we used to visit. I was incredibly sad, emotional and tearful remembering this time last year.
I think I could have felt differently had I known this poem.
Xx
I found the following in a book by Abi May. Iāve added to it to fit my circumstances.
On the news they proclaim
The worldās population has gained
The total of seven billion.
If my husband was still here
It would be a full seven billion and one.
If my mum was still living
The total theyād be giving
Would be seven billion and two.
If my brother was alive
The total that would thrive
Would be seven billion and three.
If our friend hadnāt gone
The total to go on
Would reach seven billion and four.
And for you the reader, bereaved but alive
The total you no doubt prefer
Is seven billion and five.
Of course the numbers are not exact
And what Iām writing is not quite fact
Except that we miss each and every one.
Thankyou in my thoughts heartbreakon emoji x
Last week I did similar to you and went for a walk through local woods down by the river. Every year I take the same old photos of the bluebells and it nearly always included a photo of my wife sat on one of our favourite seats. I sat their alone and a hare came past and disappeared. I always had a go at painting a sun dappled woodland scene with a carpet of blue, and the white of the ramsons. Iāve never yet perfected that colour. Maybe Iāll try again next year. I sat on our seat and, as I access this forum from my phone, I read the poem as I sat quietly listen to the sounds around me. It always helps.
Iāve been for a walk today with a friend and she pointed out to be the different species and sub species of blue bells, and also the difference between native and Spanish bluebells. She also told me all about her bees and how incredibly clever we are. I asked if it was instinct. She asked what that meant, and I couldnāt answer as its just a word we use to cover our lack of knowledge.
Not too sure that I would agree with your definition of instinct YL! Instinct is surely a deep rooted response that comes from somewhere within us enabling us to" flee or fight"ā¦whatever it is, mine has certainly been awakened by my grief struggles!
Not sure if this is the correct thread, but wonder if anyone else has read Reverend Richard Littledaleās Postcards from the Land of Grief? Written in prose they are also poetic ā¦ and very evocative and thought provokingā¦if you are interested, just Google the title!
Take care everyoneā¦have a good trip YL and be sure to let us in on your adventures!
Not too sure that I would agree with your definition of instinct YL! Instinct is surely a deep rooted response that comes from somewhere within us enabling us to" flee or fight"ā¦whatever it is, mine has certainly been awakened by my grief struggles!
Not sure if this is the correct thread, but wonder if anyone else has read Reverend Richard Littledaleās Postcards from the Land of Grief? Written in prose they are also poetic ā¦ and very evocative and thought provokingā¦if you are interested, just Google the title!
Take care everyoneā¦have a good trip YL and be sure to let us in on your adventures!
Sorry, I wasnāt very clear. We were talking about behaviour of various species and what level of consciousness they might have. My friend is an apiarist and she mentors others as sheās a bit of an expert ( not her words). Examples of things we talked about were things like migration and how that works in birds, eels, turtles, salmon, etc. My use of instinct was just as an explanation thatās often given to explain so much we donāt understand. Youāre completely right in your thoughts re. humans and thatās much easier to explain in relation to how perception works and how we store information and percepts, and the role of subliminal learning and incidental learning in all that. You could say we become programmed without really knowing it. I read a good article a few years ago about how instinct has virtually no value in educational terms without the additional rational explanation. Iāve gone round in a circle and come back to that use of the word in relation to those species other than humans.
My friendās stories about bees and recent behavioural studies were beyond belief and left me with a desire to learn more. I was quite āgobsmackedāā¦ which takes some doing.
Iāve read the Postcards and heard him talk about them on the radio. I think he is writing a book. They left a lasting impression at a very human level. I was moved.
I will keep in touch. I set off on Sunday and Iām quite conflicted when I think about it.
I was sent this today by someone who knows and cares how Iām feeling.
Some may already know it but if not I think most of us will identify with the words.
Sending love and strength to all on this seemingly never ending journey.
Xx
Grief
I had my own notion of grief.
I thought it was the sad time
That followed the death of someone you love.
And you had to push through it
To get to the other side.
But Iām learning there is no other side.
There is no pushing through.
But rather,
There is absorption.
Adjustment.
Acceptance.
And grief is not something you complete
But rather, you endure.
Grief is not a task to finish
And move on,
But an element of yourself ā
An alteration of your being.
A new way of seeing.
A new dimension of self.
Thankyou lovely words in a bittersweet way much appreciated take care of yourself as much as possible in my thoughts Adele x
Iāve just written this out, my husband loved the kinks, I am crying my eyes out, the words are so true for me, thank you so much. Bless you Iām going to go on you tube now to cry all over again listening to Ray Davies xxxxx