China Blue

I really don't know where all these poems involving death come from...

China Blue

 

China blue and snowy saucers

On the old oak table where you once sat

Alone and plaintive, dusty

I haven’t had the heart to move them yet

There’s to much of your spirit

Still in the house

It seems wrong to clear it away

When you’re supposed to come back

And drink your tea.

 

I went through your desk, though

It was necessary.

You never were organized

And I found myself buried in mountains

Of old bills and notes and wishes

And by the time I found the will

Paper birds had roosted all about the room

Their inked markings unreadable

Thanks to the flapping of their wings.

 

Your sketchbook I left by our bedside

Your notebook and Hemingway

Rest under the alarm clock

That will never wake you again

Though it rings its mournful, piercing wail

At 6:00 every morning

It scared me, the day after the funeral

I'd barely slept all night, eyes red from weeping, screamed,

still clutching your pillow to my chest

And threw mine at the foot of the bed

and the phantom shadows of dreams disappeared

In the light of a another grey morning. 

Author's Note

This is not written from personal experience, but from my imagination of what loosing a husband/lover would be like.

Reviews

[Sujash I. Purna]

the alarm clock
That will never wake you again

perfectly imagined and perfectly nailed! Good job!

[...]

. my thoughts after reading this piece ... it's an amazingly poignant piece of writing ... the detailing is impeccable and could only originate from a sensitive and observant poet ... losing someone is terrible ... losing them to death is even more excruciating ... sorrow and grief follow ... so does the inability to accept what happened ... the only way forward, imho, is by making the person's memories a part of our every day consciousness ...

[Patient Poet (Yos)]

Oh my , this one really touched me so deep inside .... its so sad , so very sad but I am glad that you picked up your words to express your sadness and grief.... time will heal they say , I know it will not be the same , but you will be better , one day each time xx

[Celestial Witch Child]

This poem is beautiful. Perhaps change stanza two, line five to "Of old bills, notes and wishes."
It would read more smoothly and better match the rest of the poem. Amazing piece.