Rose of the Night

...Ponderings on desease and mortality. To my friend, Barbara

The region around the south celestial pole. Photo: ESO (European southern Observatory) Online Digital Sky Survey. The southern hemisphere’s pole star.  From Wikipedia: Sigma Octantis is approximately 270 light years from Earth, and is classified as a giant, with a spectral type of F0 III. It is a Delta Scuti variable, with magnitude varying by about 0.03 magnitudes over 2.3 hours.  Also known as Polaris Australis.

A Co-write of Barbara Brown - http://www.writerscafe.org/bbrown

and Rick Puetter - http://www.writerscafe.org/rpuetter

Thank you Barbara for the inspiration!

-- Rick

Dear Readers,

I am most sorry to say that Barbara Brown passed away March 11, 2014, losing her fight with leukemia.  Her obituary can be found at http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Barbara-Brown&lc=1144&pid=170141210&mid=5890520.  May you rest in peace, my friend.

                -- Rick

Rose of the Night

     …A co-write with BLBrown (http://www.writerscafe.org/bbrown)

     “Dedicated to her fight with Cancer…”

 

Diseased--Oh, I’m dying, most beautiful star, 

I turn to you, humbly, though I live afar.

Can you, in your glory, please spare me disease?

Shine blessed rays, graceful, on ' soul--heal me please!

 

I looked to Polaris, but prayed there in vain,

Then looked to Arcturus--was shunned with disdain.

Still fangs of dire Cancer eat me inside out

Thus ' turned to you, stranger, brave star of the south.

 

Oh, Sigma Ocantis, though you’re not as bright,

O'er north-star, Polaris, I laud your gold light.

Please heal me, and guide me, though you shine afar,

You’ve saved many others, south-mariner star!

 

Oh, take me, enfold me--pour sweet healing wine,

And I’ll drink your light from our galaxy’s vine.

I call you, and beg you, in oft pleaded verse,

Bloom of cosmic garden, please end diseased curse!

 

Like ' child, I lie helpless, and beg with this prayer,

Please spare me this darkness--this lot I can’t bear!

In fear, desperation, I’m seeking your light--

Need radiant healing, kind Rose of the Night!

 

 

©2012 Barbara Brown and Richard Puetter

each and individually.

Author's Note

To my coauthor: The inspiration was yours, Dear Lady! If I could help, it was only my deepest pleasure.

Kindest regards, and best wishes for a most kind tomorrow!

Rick

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Dear Barbara and Rick!

Sensational and captivating in all aspects!

As cancer, a disease without mercy tears one down as it is doing to you Barbara, we search for answers, reasons, attempt to come to grips with it, find some purpose in it as you have done in your touching words that reach into the very depths of the cosmos.

To Barbara.......you leave me speechless with your poetic plea and I send you only the best of hope in fighting this dire disease which has already claimed my dear husband, Barry. May you remain strong, find solace in your writing, continue to fight the good fight, love your family and friends, and draw from others the strength you need in doing so! Dearest Barbara may you be spared the darkness, find the light, receive radiant healing from the Rose of the Night!! There are many who care!!! Above all, DON'T EVER GIVE UP!! May the rose of the night fill you with a fragrance of healing!!


To Rick........your kind and willing spirit to help others shines in this piece as you and Barbara have come together to create words which pierce the heart. You have taken your knowledge of the universe, together with her emotions and made this a piece to ever remember!! As always, your form is perfection!!

Thank you to both of you for giving us a glimpse into the heart of one struggling to survive with the gentle spirit of another to guide you!

Indeed, an exquisite co-write!!!!

Best Regards,
Sheila

[emmajoy]

Hard for me to review this rationality, has content too close to my heart. But, i do know that the technicalities of your collaboration is second to none and the way the emotions are set out is exceptional.

A most beautiful prayer: ' Like ' child, I lie helpless, and beg with this prayer, ~Please spare me this darkness--this lot I can’t bear! ~ In fear, desperation, I’m seeking your light-- Need radiant healing, kind Rose of the Night!'

[BLBrown]

You made it even more beautiful...if not for the topic the lingering flow would sound like a lullaby...if you didn't listen too closely to the words. It's interesting, I don't think I told you why I wrote the first draft. I was sitting out on my deck and it was probably around 10ish pm. The sky was pure black, and there were millions of twinkling lights in the sky that just amazed me...and for some reason I felt close to the Universe. I was looking all around, recognized the North star, but figured he was too busy to listen to me (seriously, I actually thought that.)

I turned south and noticed Sigma Ocantis...whose name I did not know. He looked like he might turn his ear to me, (seriously, I actually thought that.) I stared and then began to recite the childhood poem, "Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight..." Then I said a prayer to the star, so filled with despair I can't even explain. But talking to the star calmed me, slowed everything down.

Now, do you know what I believe? I think that the star ANSWERED in the form of this poem. Every moment I have spent on it, I have been set free from fear and despair, as well as now, I read it over and over, and I feel very enlighted as well, that impossibly little me could sway this star (forget whether it is dead now or not for it is a vision regardless.) And the end product has been food for my soul.

I wrote a piece recently called "The waiting room," that I'd like for you to read when you can. I think, having gone through this collaboration, you will understand this more than others. Jim - you as well.

p.s. My friends, laugh every day, for laughter too heals. If you can't find anything to laugh about just go to youtube and type in "kitten with hamster ball." Gets me every time.

Thank you again for your concern and kindness! And all the time you spent on this making it so much more beautiful and, still, desperate. In all of our iterations we never lost that. In fact, it is more raw in desperation than before.

I hope you have a wonderful day and that your wife is doing better! That makes me think about the poem you read to her, "My Lover's Eyes." I did a pretty extensive rewrite of "My Lover's Eyes," after working on this poem, "Rose of the Night," with you, if you are interested. I think it is much better. Perhaps your wife would enjoy this new version.

Barbara

[Emerald Seas]

Rick, this is an exquisite, prayerful request. The collaborative effort is amazing. You both did a wonderful job of bringing your emotion and struggle to the reader. Cancer is just... well, awful and as I keep saying lately "cancer sucks". I've said goodbye to a couple of dear people lately, had my own brief issue (taken care of thank goodness), and have witnessed a few friends that have successfully won their long, tough battles. There is hope. Wonderfully written piece. Thank you for sharing your work.