Jean Joyce Has a Few Choice Words with God

Written for a dear friend when his mother died in 2009. Perhaps not such fine poetry but his stories about his mother and her husband and six children make me smile even now.

Jean  Joyce Has a Few Choice Words with God

 

I've waited a long while to come to you, Father,
and the wait toward the end..well, it wasn't too easy.
But now we're together and I have some comments.

 

Oh wait, can You see them,the children, my family?
Look at them gathering, laughing together: Jerry, Gerard,
Ann and Virginia, John, Jeanmarie and finally Martin.

 

All of them precious. I see them so clearly; my sight
goes out long. There's Jerry just offering that first cup
of coffee; see us step off the ice and into our marriage?

 

Wait! First I can see myself, so young and breathless,
hopping the train bound toward Hawaii. My boss
might have scared me but never adventure!

 

Now I'm home. I'm a bride, and he tall and handsome.
Then came the children. I reared them with love,
firmness, our faith, and some good common sense.

 

But this isn't what I hoped to discuss here. I wanted
to ask you if all of that suffering ... Lord, look at that sunset!
We used to see sunsets on the beach every year...

 

We bought a small cottage, just by luck & a phone call.
We had blessed times. Now, look there, dear Father,
our grandchildren playing on the same warm sand!

 

But this isn't what I thought we'd discuss here. I wanted
to ask you...well, look at that party! We're full to the rafters!
Don't we all make a picture! More laughing, more singing!

 

I feel so light, Lord, so loved and so joyous. I know that
I wanted to ask you some questions, but now I've forgotten.
Pain ebbs away as I feel You around me. I stand in Your grace.

 

I always knew You - I looked at my loved ones and there You were smiling.

 

 

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Our words for the grieving are usually so cliched and weak. We say things like "They're in a wonderful place now," or "She's no longer in pain." Your words written in a poem for a friend are different, however. It's not mere conversation spoken from down here while looking up, it's a vehicle of sorts that takes the son up there and shows him that everything is fine. His mother is happy and content. This is a very good thing you've done, Holly.

[Jasmine]

Wow, I'm wishing I'd read more of your stuff now, as I'm finding it is excellent - very emotive, you identify with, well, I guess the "human condition" honestly and openly.
This piece makes me want to cry.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

This is very much what I hope Heaven is like. She had issues ... things that she wanted answered. But the beauty and joy and happiness was overwhelming and she forgot what her grievances were. I pray that I feel this happiness and joy in Heaven one day.

[manchilld99]

beautiful illustration of 'the opiate.'

[Ladysue]

This was purely beautiful. Such a lovely sentiment for your friend...

[Emily B]

she has such a lovely voice, I could listen to her ramble half the day :)

[Ed Hart]

it's a god trick; they all do it