angry

purging

she was born angry, 

it seems.

her parents did not

          know how to love her.

a couple of husbands tried...

the anger alienated her children,

         but only after it infected them,

         and one of the grandchildren, too.

was it love, or duty?

the youngest thought it was love, 

          as he did his duty,

          donating and dumpstering.

there are different kinds of tears...

a waxen figure in an open casket,

          wearing a frown.

the smile mask left at last breath.

she died angry,

it seems.

Author's Note

Sometimes more is learned after a person dies.
I accepted Mom the way she was, and was able to love her unconditionally in her last years.


photo: John Jackson

Reviews

[...]

. those who are not loved and cherished are very hurt inside ... as time passes, if they're not loved and cherished, the hurt accumulates ... anger is nothing but pain that has accumulated over time ... i wish her infinite peace ... and heavenly smiles ... may she be loved and cherished where she is now ... in fact, i have no doubt in my mind that she must be ... thank you for reminding me how important it is to love and cherish all those around us with your infinitely moving and heartfelt words ...

[Hayley]

This is so powerful, I like that you are exploring and getting it all out. There are a lot of emotions here, I only know too well.

[Kenneth The Poet]

A powerful piece. I feel for you.

[Donald Meikle]

great opening and ending. It pictures a life and the watcher. I will always remember riding the tram with mum and her constant smiling. I never knew why.

[Ruth]

This is beautiful for you have accepted them for all their downs and ups :) Very touching love...reached me:) xoxo

[Marie]

But perhaps she will live agan in a world which holds no anger....

[?]

This brought tears to my eyes...There are some that we do just have to accept the way they are...and know that down deep...deep within...hidden even...there is LOVE...they do LOVE...She did LOVE you...

[Ed Hart]

anger: the one thing we seem to be able to take to the grave

[Samuel Dickens]

I'm familiar with this, it being in my family, too. Could it have been caused by a hard life, or was it just the way they were taught to act? Where anger and hate abides, there's not much room for love and kindness.

[Emily B]

so much happens to all concerned during those final days, I understand, I've lived with the angry one

[patricia]

i can relate to this a lot, sometimes we stay angry to keep the sadness away, because anger is a fuel that keeps us moving, and one doesn't always have the luxury of time and space for sadness. these things have a way of seeping out insidiously i suppose. Loved this John,