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LOVE ALWAYS REMEMBERS by Edith Lazenby

I wrote this poem watching TV with my 87 year old mother. ..

This may be the last time I see her. She has Alzheimer’s and ovarian cancer. Yesterday I had many tears, feeling this. Today I am grateful she knows who I am and grateful to spend time with her. The good news is she knows who I am and is in no pain.

Dying of Alzheimer’s is awful as the body slowly shuts down so I am grateful this will be her exit. I don’t think I am ready. I don’t think we ever are. My Mother ends every conversation saying either: “Hugs, hugs, hugs” or “Love, love, love.” She has given me much. She likes to be kissed now. When I was a child I grew up playing table games with her and my best friend. She is a good woman. I could not have asked for more.

Love Always Remembers

Deer runs by,
Fox stops in the middle of the road;
A cardinal knocks on my window.
Toad jumps. Butterfly flies.
Crickets sing, Praying Mantis
Says it all…thanks rises at dawn
And sparkles with stars at night.
The ocean rocks and waves
Make a lull-a-bye. I stand tall
In the light and dance softly
Mid the shadows. Animals don’t lie.
The body knows our truth.
Listen: all you need beats within.
Heart blossoms seed what we give
And give what we take.
Let hope shine. Life goes on.
But we all die.
Don’t ask why.
Know now. Every time you miss it,
The loss cannot be found
But love always remembers
What we don’t forget.
So let’s remember to love.
Let’s remember the moment.
Don’t forget nature.
If you do, it will ruin you.

Edith Lazenby: “I love to write. I began writing poetry in elementary school. Sometimes I write poetry daily, other times not. I adore Mary Oliver, her way of embracing the light while acknowledging the darkness. I teach yoga full time and find the practice has grounded me deeper in my body and heart and helped me move closer to what I call spirit. I also now edit for Elephant Journal and write for them as well. I live with my husband, who is my best friend, and 4 kitties. Life holds challenges yet with time I feel better able to live in the moment, moment by moment. All great teachers teach presence. I find each day is a lesson in being. The process of writing holds me and I find the craft teaches me something new each time. You may visit my blog here.


~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~ 

Comments

  1. I work in a Skilled Nursing/Rehab facility where many with memory impairment live. We grow very fond of our residents, and view them not just as they are, but as who the once were, each story unique. Sharing a link to a brief piece written as we learned one was passing. I like to think of death not as loss, but transition to a place where we are all "whole" again. Perhaps you will find comfort in the words: http://insideoutpoetry.blogspot.com/2013/06/becoming.html

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