he approaches with a tender smile
his wet eyes, lost to other thoughts
she takes him in her arms
wrapping his broad shoulders
she remembers a lifetime ago
holding his entire body in her hands
he is a man
he is a child
their quiet embrace, these silent words
his sadness, the foaming ocean
fear like predators circling
waiting to take away what is given over
his flushed face sinks into her shoulder
his tears pool in the bowl of her clavicle
the dry hot summer air freezes
she squeezes him tighter
I’m still here holding onto you
until you are ready to swim
someday I too will disappear into the middle of the ocean
though you are a strong swimmer now
you must let me float away
after I am gone
there will be sunsets,
and sunrises
where I hope to see your beautiful smile
wood nymph
my son’s good friend, lost his mother last night
she was an exceptionally brave woman
Condolences to the family. 😔
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thank you, John
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Sorry your son’s friend lost his mother. Prayers for him and love for him during this tragic and hard times. Big hugs for him.
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thank you, Dan
16 is a tough age – though there is never a good age to lose a parent
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Yea I agree your son’s friend’s life hasn’t even started yet. He will overcome it with the support and friendship of your good son.
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Max’s friend is a fellow wrestler and a terrific kid who has his mom’s beautiful dark eyes
he has much support
thank you, Dan
am:)
you have a good weekend and feel well
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Glad to hear he has good support. I’ll keep him in my prayers. Your welcome. You have a good weekend too and have fun creating! Been an writing machine with my new horror book. You must read it when I finish it and tell me if it is better than John Carpenters ‘Halloween’. Have a great weekend beloved AnnMarie!
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I couldn’t read this post without tearing up, AM. Very visual, very tender the moment between mother and son. Loss is never easy at any age, but I think a young person probably takes it hardest because at that age death doesn’t make sense, because there’s so much to live for. And maybe the cruelest joke is that life does go on for the living, and nature seems not to notice our loss–the sun rises and sets, the moon crosses the sky, trees shed their leaves in the fall, the rains come again in the spring. It doesn’t seem possible that life can go on, but it does–as your poem so beautifully demonstrates. My condolences to you and to Max. DS
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so very say, Maggie was a beautiful woman with spectacular fight in her heart – Max was so very heart-broken for his friend –
thank you, DS – ah, life she is a cruel beauty
am:)
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Max is a sweetie, AM, a real gem. Hug him tightly. And yes, life is a cruel beauty.
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thanks, DS
lots of arm wraps for these boys
am:)
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So very sad. Beautiful words.
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sad truly, Georgiann
I can’t remember the last time my giant boy sobbed
thank you
am:)
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This is beautiful, AM, really captures the special bond between mother and son.
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thank you, V.J.
much appreciation
am:)
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