Winter

Her old body is not moving like it used to,
she's lost the spring in her step. Winters
seem longer and colder--bone numbing.
The arthritis in her hands makes her
knitting so difficult, so painful. Will she get
the blanket done in time for Sally's birthday?
Will she even finish it at all? One can
only hope.

Since her husband's been gone most days
seem to drag on, bleeding into each other.
Sorrow has a hold on her still, the grief's so heavy.
She wonders if she will ever be happy again--
44 years together, her life's so empty
without him.

It will be three months this Tuesday since
his heart beat its last, faint whisper.

July 22, 2003

James: How sad:( (but nicely written). Is this about a relative/friend/grandparent? Incidentally, I hate to say it but some of your words describe how I personally used to feel living through the cold winters of Boston....so thanks...

Hi Joan,

Thanks, I am glad you liked it. This poem is not about anyone I know. I was writing it because of a poetry challenge at poetry site:

New Weekly Subject Writing Topic is: "Heart Whispers"

Everyone who was posting for this challenge were posting love poems, very flowery, etc. I wanted to write a poem from a different angle, one that was not expected.

Thanks, again, I am glad you liked it.

I have relatives that live in Massachusettes, Swansea and Fall River, and a cousin near Boston. I also have an Aunt that lives in Barrington R.I.

We have not been back to the East Coast since 1997. But boy was that a good trip! We were there for 11 days for a wedding but drove all over to Boston, Newport, Plymoth Rock etc. But perhaps the highlight of the trip was going to see Garth Brooks when he performed in New York Central Park. We had my youngest daughter, then 11 months, in a backpack carrier and we took the train in from Conneticut. That trip was a blast! I really want to get back there in the next couple of years to see my relatives. My Nana(Grandmother) is 83 and I want to see her.

I guess I am in the writing mood......I better get back to work.

No kidding -- Garth Brooks -- I love country music -- and HIM and in central park -- cool:) The trip you took to Massachusetts and New England James sounds wonderful I must admit.....you really saw some sites...which goes to say...Massachusetts and New England has some great places to visit:) but I wouldn't want to LIVE there...

Incidentally, your daughter, then 11 months? a real trouper!

Back to work? Oh yes, you're three hours behind me. It's only 3:15 or so in California...ok James, back to work:)

Yes...Back to work, but I am about to leave early....It is a little slow, I don't have much to do today. Can finish on Friday.
Have a good afternoon, Joan

Thanks James, um, but it's night here:) Enjoy your personal day off..that will be nice:)

Thanks Joan.

You have a lot of different quotes, do you have the source of the quotes, the people who wrote them. I am collecting quotes and I like to have the person who wrote it.

The source? The people who wrote them? Um, nope! But I never pretend any of the quotes here are original as NONE of them are...MOST of them are from my late grandmother's quote collection...she collected them for many years and I inherited her collection when she died. Some of hers have the authors and some don't. I just don't bother to be honest James. Then others I have just collected myself.