Last Rally

for over six years

mum's decline was mourned

as she sat daily in her blue

high back bedside chair

.

as she slowly parachuted

into the inevitable hell

of no man's land and

and its unfriendly ghosts

.

places unrecognised

memories erased

her green eyes lifeless

her warm smile absent

.

until that last memorable visit

before freedom's call

when she rallied

surprisingly

.

for a precious hour

she came back to me

as i held her hand

totally in tune

.

singing from an old

maternal song sheet

mother and child

reunion

.

a gift before

she slipped away

into the arms of eternity

and no return

Reviews

[lightsong]

Always when You write about your mom You write with pure love, with warmth and kindness. with true and sincere emotions. I am really happy that You and she could share that precious moment of closeness before she passed away. May she rests in peace and shine her light upon You my dear. moving words.

[Chris Shaw]

Those moments of clarity, where there had been none for sometime were a gift I will always treasure. She told me my brother who died seven years ago had visited her and would come again. I believed her. Such special moments. Thank you dear lightsong for gracing my page and allowing me to share my mum.

Chris

[lightsong]

Yes my dear, this clarity You are expressing is the truth. she was telling the truth and in your heart you felt it. You are a true treasure of a Daughter. Bless You✨

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you :)

[Neville]

Despite the indisputable & understandable sadness that most surely underpins every single strategically well placed word, there is beauty here too and so much love ..

[Chris Shaw]

There was beauty and there was love, but also astonishment that there was total clarity and all the fog of the previius eight years evaporated. It was a gift. Both my sisters visited the following day and she was unresponsive. I remember everything we talked about. Dear Neville, thank you.

Chris

[Neville]

I so envy that last experience .. I wish I had had a similar one

Neville

[JE Falcon]

"a gift before
she slipped away
into the arms of eternity" --- Such a wonderful poem, and remembrance.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Falcon. Yes, will always be a special memory amid the sadness.

Chris

[Carola]

wow, a powerful train of emotions you experienced.
my 98 y.o. mother (will be 99 in august) drifts in & out of no man's land. but she still recognises us & smiles, falls asleep all the time even when sitting in her chair.
so I understand your poem, although I'm not that emotionally attached to her, too much baggage from her unsympathetic parenting skills during my teens.
happy sunday.
cheerio carola

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Carola for another visit. Thanks for sharing your experiences with your own mother. I was very fortunate with mine. We were close.

Chris

[Dave]

Chris - you so poignantly point out the pain your mum was suffering, but the pain you were feeling as well. Though I'm sure she must have known that her end was near. She rallied enough to spend a last pleasant time with you. This was a beautiful piece of remembrance .

Thank you Chris - take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your thoughtful response Dave. You are much appreciated. Happy Easter.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes, I have tears in my eyes... as I held her hand and her Spirit flew into Eternity... an experience that gives you an uncanny Belief of the hereafter.
As we touch the "Hem" of Heaven.... so gently through soft pastels of flowers... truly, 'touching'... Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Pat. Sending love across the waves. A very happy Easter to you and your loved ones. Really appreciate your visit my friend.

Chris

[Patricia Wedel]

Happiest of Easter Moments with Lillie’s and Hyacinths… our Weather is Pleasant as we remember the Resurrection… when Mary prayed… 💐 🙏 Amen. .. Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Lovely the weather is pleasant for you on Good Friday. Lillies and hyacinths are quite intoxicating. Highly scented. Mm mm very nice.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris... I love the Verse.... "Consider the Lillies of the Field" (and the movie with Sidney Poitier )... one of our Favorites. Wishing you and yours a blessed Easter. Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Such a fine actor Pat. Happy Easter dear friend.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

Hi, Chris,

This is especially nice, everything a lyric poem should be. Congratulations.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for your very encouraging review. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

read moreThank you so much for your very encouraging review. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

I particularly liked the second stanza and next to last as well.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you. Pleased you enjoyed this poem because it's a special. memory for me.

[Samuel Dickens]

This is emotional and real. Going out with a bang is what most would probably prefer, (like my brother who passed in his sleep) but that doesn't happen much. How heartbreaking to see them slowly fade away, as your mother did. We can only hope that it's worse for us than it is for them.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Sam. After such a long time of seeing her decline in every way, this last hour with her while she was conscious was a gift and it gives me comfort. She was ready to go. I really appreciate your thoughtful review.

Chris

[Cherrie Palmer]

What a hour. We should all be blessed with that final moment shared.
You captured it so serenely with love and dignity that everyone deserves.
A beautiful moment trapped in a pain and void that lingers along side it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Cherrie for your lovely review. All the best to you.

Chris

[Tim H]

I liked the imagery and the metaphors. Having gone through a similar experience, I can appreciate the the depth of feeling you expressed so well.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for stopping by to leave a review Tim. You are appreciated.

Chris