She Haunts Unable To Forget

( following dreams I had about Katharine Phillips, an English poet who died over 400 years ago, I wrote this, an old poem)

As midnight chimes she visits me,

in dreams her candle burns at night.

And through a maze of passageways

she bids me follow her soft light.

In close pursuit, I trace her steps

and soon we reach an old oak door.

Once more she lifts the rusted latch

then slumps upon the cold stone floor.

Sad anguished cries escape her veils

as she relives her heart-felt tale.

For seven years at dawn and dusk

she prayed in hope that she'd conceive,

but all her joy for her new boy

was crushed when she was left to grieve.

His empty cradle rocks alone,

he lived for only six short weeks.

She mourns for her departed son

and years once more to kiss his cheeks.

Four hundred years since then and yet,

she haunts unable to forget.

She strikes a chord with those today

who mourn for children sadly lost.

They empathise and sympathise

and know full well the tragic cost.

Though many years since her son's death,

the lessons learned will always be

that pain is timeless and can last

for what seems an eternity.

But sharing a maternal grief

can on occasions bring relief.

Reviews

[Neville]

what greater loss could there possibly be .. my own sister experienced such a devastating loss, many years ago now, but between you & me nothing has been the same since then .. at this precise time, 400 hundred years would still feel raw, I am guessing .. what a sad bit of relatively local history you have poemed & so well our Chris.

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Neville. This poet played on my mind till I wrote the poem. Then she left as quickly as she came. Tragic losing a child. Sorry to hear about your sister’s loss. Hope you had a lovely Christmas.

Chris

[Lorry]

Beautifully told tale Chris. Grief is eternal and no words of comfort will change that. Her loss is in her heart and soul, imprisoned for all time and although we move on, we never forget.

[Jimmy Yetts]

A profoundly tragic account that devastates, dear Chris.
Have to believe, though--at some point--your last two lines are true.
A beautifully crafted poem with undeniable impact!

[Wild Rose]

The death of anyone even an aged person can be a wrench

The death of a child must be really heart breaking and last with you for ever

[barleygirl]

I love the way you start this poem in "the olden days" & then gradually your message is made more & more relevant to the modern world. I love the way you honor a poet by showing how her words are still as powerful now as ever. And most of all I love the way your poem is encouraging to self-deprecating writers who might feel that writing about their everyday issues wouldn't be interesting . . . but who knows? It might resound thru hundreds of years! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Hello lovely Margie. A new pic of you showing your beautiful flowing hair and smiling face. This is quite an old poem, but I dug it out from my archives because I have so much respect for this poet. Very unusual to have women poets at the time she was writing, and the death of her son after being childless for seven years really moved me. Yes I have paid tribute to her.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! you had dreams of her?? how cool is that! were they happy, disturbing ...what?? i had to look her up and did read a little ..what an incredible woman ... so way ahead of her time ... she could be alive today and leading some revolutionary cause that she seems to have represented way back then ... your poem speaks to what i think is the deepest bottom of grief ... to hear such wailings of a mother for her child is overwhelming ... the punch is far more than just a knockout ... well done .. your poem has put me in a mood for sure :((
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Hi Mr E. It's not a happy poem is it? Her story so incredibly sad, but I felt she deserved to be remembered for both her poetry and her heartache. She certainly left her mark on me. Thank you kindly for your visit.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

pretty sad for sure :( but you do a fine tribute to her and service to those like me that never heard of her ... its surprisingly so .. she was such a warrior pioneer ...she paid such a price during her life, i am sure :(

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you ............

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this reminds me of one of my favorite films...a 1944 movie called "the uninvited"

a ghost story about a mother's intensely strong love---

got a bit of a chill reading this one...but in a good way.

j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jacob. I don't know that film, but I also like some of the old black and white ones. This was a bit of a haunting. After reading about her sad life, she did appear in my dreams on quite a few occasions. She certainly left her mark with me.

Chris

[Avelina Devi]

No one should ever have to suffer the loss of a child. There is no time limit on grief.
You weave a sad and devastating emotional write.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you kindly for your review. Pleased to have you visit my page Xiamara.

Chris

[Dave]

Nothing strikes so hard as the death of a child. Parents seldom, if ever, think that someday they might have to bury a child, especially a young one. I have a very close friend whose son was killed in a tragic accident. The effect was quite devastating.

I just now read your profile - welcome aboard! - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave. Yes I have to agree that the loss of a child would be totally devastating. Thank you for reading my profile and the welcome extended.

Best wishes

Chris

[Dave]

To you too. - Dave

[Lyn Anderson]

Some writing just pulls us in and holds us where the writer was, at that moment -- for me, the modern writer I adore is Anne Sexton. Your poem, despite the different author, took me there, to that place of loving that writer.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lyn for your very generous review. Much appreciated.

Chris