In Her Memory

In Her Memory      ( Sami Khalil )

She gave his heart a pulse!

Before she knew her little dreams, he had grand ones for her.

As the grandfather endured abysmal nights by his granddaughter’s bed, she lay dying from a severe strain of the Flu. He lamented her death eventually in unison with his daughter’s memory that passed away too from domestic abuse, and where his son-in-law, the faceless coward, is serving life sentence in jail.

Those small hands were cold and shaky, holding his, before exiting the traffic of death, in redolent vigor. Grief held his words hostage in his throat, with befuddled drowners of sleepless nights. He stayed in the doldrums a while, until the decision to honor her remembrance, and get those hope engines thrumming again.

He took up woodworking classes at Shelton State Community College and, upon graduation, set out to buy some fancy tools from a ‘Big Box’ store named Lowes, to pursue his dream of compassion.

He hung his negative past behind, just as the new tools were hung in the space of her absence. Her voice echoed with them, as he fashioned marvelous ‘Doll Houses’ to bestow on needy families’ young girls every Christmas. Love should be the devotion that defines our heart, and the happy consolation that imprints our hands in giving, he thought to himself.

Every smile they brought to a child’s face, lit up a bonfire celebration in his mind. He stamped every one of them with her name and the date of her death. After Christmas, he noticed a beautiful cedar tree, with blue buds, sprung out of nowhere, upon his garden loam with gales lacing soft laughter.

He gazed at it in awe while taking it as a sign from above.

He named it the ‘Angel Tree’!       

              

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

dealing with grief is a very personal matter ..each of us in our own way ..something that comes out strong in your story ... a Grandfather has great joy in grandchildren and if the old ones are supposed to go first how much more is that shock with grand and even great grand children ..i love the way he has dealt with his grief .. making with hands on wood ... something that imprints the wood with human oils and soul ... a very touching story sami ..the font makes me think i need reading glasses tho ;) i love the tree ... the combination of realistic to impressionism seems perfect
E.

[Sami Khalil]

OMG! What a gorgeous review and wise take on this story. So glad you like it and an honor indeed when you visit.

[Mrudula Rani]

In five paragraphs you filled a life time of emotions! You showed how we can harvest personal grief and bring happiness to others. The best part of this account is the gift from heaven for his loving heart; a magnificent cedar tree! Reading your words is always a pleasure. Thanks Sami Khalil, for sharing this lovely episode.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Thank you so muich beloved poet and friend for this wonderful review and timely visit. I'm so glad you like it. Take care.

[Mrudula Rani]

Your writings are inspiring, and it is always my pleasure reading your works.

[Sami Khalil]

Much obliged. Gracie Mille.

[Mrudula Rani]

De nada, u prazer e meu!

[Mrudula Rani]

Desculpe eu coletei letra errado. Tem que ser o prazer. Não é u . Uma grande abraço.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow. I love it...

[Mrudula Rani]

Obrigada ( thank you)!

[Sami Khalil]

Shokran Jazeelan( Thank you very much)

[Mrudula Rani]

Has similarities to indo-Arabic languages! Sounds beautiful!

[Sami Khalil]

It is Arabic...See you soon.

[Sami Khalil]

Based on a true story but with added details and imagination.

[Sami Khalil]

"Love should be the devotion that defines our heart, and the happy consolation that imprints our hands in giving"

Sami Khalil