A Winter Passing

The price one pays in life for love

is grief, so when it grips you know

the measure and the depth of it

when passes on another soul.

It took a fall of winter snow,

its simple beauty pure and white

to break the numbness that I felt,

to let the tears flow gently down.

Those flakes of crystal doomed to melt,

were swirling, whirling, dancing free,

those quiet moments standing there,

alone and with my memories.

One door has closed, yet clearly now,

my eyes wide open and I see,

without a doubt I loved her well,

she was indeed a friend to me.

Author's Note

Critique welcome pleaseau

Reviews

[Red Brick Keshner]

Hard hitting first thought Chris! And the passing on of grief is quite connecting as well. And the beauty of a numbing snow to break the numbness of mourning is a sweet release whose momentary "life-cycle" does not hinder its free dance like the love that is afforded to those that roam the earth in their allotted time.
Frederick

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fred's for giving this older poem an airing and reminding me of a friend of many years standing no longer with us. Your thoughts are very much appreciated. I have been very busy, I need to refocus on my poetry.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

This reminds me so much of a movie I saw, Wind River, where the advice given to a father who had lost a daughter was not to avoid the grief but to embrace it, otherwise all the good memories are buried, too.
A nice contribution you have made to that idea.
W.

[Chris Shaw]

I like your thoughts here Winston. I am currently grieving my mum who died earlier this year. Whenever those uncontrollable waves come and hit me and knock me for six, I know I loved her unconditionally and always will. Yes the pain speaks to me. Many thanks for bringing this older poem into the light.

Chris.

[W. Barrett Munn]

It turns out the advice from the movie was valid. You can't avoid the pain of without without losing the valuable memories.
Winston

[Neville]

working backwards like this could under certain circumstances be the very death of me .. but hey, I like taking risks and anyway, this has helped take the heat out of my late morning day .. Filled with chilling universal truths Chris and needs to be resurrected in my most humble opinion :)

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you chose this one Neville. Sometimes we don't know what people mean to us until it is too late to find out. The measure of the grief is all telling. Thank you my friend.

Chris

[Tate Morgan]

Love lost is often the turning point to something better . As all we once felt was our future changes before our eyes. The word play is unique and sublime.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tate for giving this old poem an airing. Your review is so encouraging and welcome. A much appreciated visit.

Chris

[T.S. Ulmus]

The opening phrase is quite potent and the final stanza wraps it up very well. Poems about loss are usually quite intimate to the author, you express the feeling here as well as anyone could.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you TS. An old poem out for a breath of fresh air. I appreciate you checking in and your thoughts.

Chris

[Kent Rawski]

This is a beautiful poem. It speaks to me of times in solitude. A composed attitude of reflectiveness, beautiful metaphorically reflected. I especially love the line well I love all of it

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Kent. Good to see you. Thank you for that lovely review. Much appreciated. Keep safe and well.

Chris

[Broken.]

This must have been a very close friend to you. I can almost feel it in the words and imagery. Reminds me of the phrase "To love and lost is better than not to love at all" I don't agree with this. I think ignorance is bliss, and only true emotions are felt during the ups and downs of life. Well done again, a very beautifully written poem. Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Broken. This poem is a tribute to Mona my first mum in law. She wasn't the easiest person to please, but I loved her well. I think as you age your outlook changes. I certainly think at my time if life a little love is better than none at all. Really appreciate you spend g your time reading my work.

Chris

[Wórdsmíth]

i read the below comment and i am sorry to hear about your former mum in law. sometimes, more than being in any relation, a loop of friendship does good things that keep people together either as friends or beloved ones... a great tribute you wrote.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much. Pleased you enjoyed this tribute to my mum in law. All good wishes.

Chris

[Charlotte Wensleydale]

What a beautiful poem. The impermanent beauty of the snowflakes is such an apt symbol of the short-lived beauty of human life. This is a very touching piece of writing, and it was very enjoyable to read!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Charlotte, thank you so much for your encouraging review. Please accept my apologies for the delay in thanking you.

Chris