I remember her wrinkles
the way her mouth drew up
just before a smile
the way she sang off tune
and loved a red convertible
and how one time she trapped a skunk
that was getting into her bird seed
and let him go
without getting sprayed
how we listened with amazement
and laughed
at the stubborn eighty-year-old woman
battling woodland creatures
and winning
how I always cry when we
sing her favorite song in church
God, I miss her
How Great Thou Art
how great was the woman who loved us
who was so amazing
that even a skunk knew not to spray her
grief
6-word Stories Tell a Story on Their Own
I worked on this last week, but I guess I forgot to post. It was something I saw on a Facebook feed from a previous year. Someone had shared some 6-word stories and they were heartbreaking. Beautiful though, but amazing how they were able to portray so much with so little words. It’s such a great challenge though for creative writers.
Let’s see what you can come up with…here’s mine:
Seven 6-Word Stories
1. Brian said, “Goodbye.” Then he jumped.
2. Snowflakes danced around flower-covered headstones.
3. Black coffee drank up searing disappointments.
4. The advertisement read: need companion, non-violent.
5. Clutched hands trembled, the doctor spoke.
6. Tail wagged. The Vet said, “Ready?”
7. Birds chirped happily over rushing water.
Poem: Saying Goodbye
About a week ago, Mike and I had to say goodbye to his dog, Marley. He had Lyme disease that went to his kidneys and after a few trips to the vet we were saying goodbye sooner than we ever thought possible.
Although he wasn’t mine, I loved him. He was our family and now he’s gone. We are dealing with it as best we can. But it’s never easy saying goodbye.
Saying Goodbye
I didn’t want to say the words, “put down”
Like he was some shiny toy
We had picked up and lost interest
too cold to think of leaving
Such a treasure behind
to think of all the tail wags, the last sniffs in the snow
the moment before the final moment the worst
a deep sleep that hurts
One final pin-prick, back leg trembles.
I couldn’t find the words to say
I’ll help you
I’m right here
I’m sorry
Then, sobbing in the car like I’d lost something I’ll never find again
Tail wags, brown, liquid eyes full of courage
You’re hurt and you’re dying and all you have to say is: I love you
Poem: Dear Grandma
Dear Grandma,
I miss you
I think of you everyday
your loud laughter
your eye-crinkle smile
even your house
that smelled a certain way
the holidays are near
I want to show I care
I want to know that you’d be proud
I want to feel like you’re here
I want someone
to throw wrapping paper
I want someone
to squeeze me so tight it hurts
I want the fake snow-flake decals
on every single window
It doesn’t feel like Christmas
now that you’re gone, grandma…
it feels like a big hole is missing
that place that used to exist
the place where Christmas used to be
I imagine it sucked out like a giant vacuum
a void, a black hole
a darkness that feels so sad
and so angry
so empty
so empty
It makes me mad
that you’re not here
to see the years past
you won’t get the family bulletin
a summary of the year
of life’s triumphs
and heart-breaks
Instead we drag on
we trudge behind time
like lost little sheep
we labor to it
we are slaves to it
we worship it
but we can’t do anything
there’s nothing I can do about you being gone
I’d know what you’d say
you’d laugh and say something like,
“Trust God, and in him, all things are possible.
And what are you worrying about anyway?
I’m with him. And that’s as it should be…”
But it feels so sad, Grandma…
so hopeless,
without you.
A. J. Morse 