A friend and colleague has died suddenly in a car crash. It is still hard for the living to breathe...
In the time it takes
to blink
to slam your foot on the brake pedal
to register the sound of splintering glass
the grind of metal
in the time it takes
to breathe
one last breath - in, out -
to wish it hadn't happened
to wonder what comes next
in the time it takes to sigh
everything changes
sorry for your loss...it is hard esp when it is so sudden...all it takes is one little thing...ugh
ReplyDeleteWe all hang by a fragile thread. May this tragedy bring all who grieve to an acute understanding of the value of every breath ... as your beautiful poem suggests. Condolences.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathy to you and all those who grieve your friend. Your poem captures the second-by-second grace by which we each continue to live.
ReplyDeletepauline - in the fullness of a moment so much ends and so much begins. i'm so sorry for the suffering that accrues to this death. steven
ReplyDeleteMy virtual arms around your shoulders and my thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteI understand the pain of loss and I am very sorry to read of yours.
ReplyDeleteTake care
Robyn
The sorrow has made a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteNot wasted, then.
I wonder how that last breath feels, whether it seems to last forever or be gone in a split second? I hope I never find out, at least not in the way your friend did.
ReplyDeleteheart strings, I call them: those blinks that brought us here, those blinks that take us.... it's been rough lately... wish you well.
ReplyDeletePauline, I'm so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss. We lost someone yesterday (the daughter of a friend) in a motorcycle accident so your poem is so profound and poignant at this time. Thank you so much for sharing. It somehow made it easier, reading this.
ReplyDeleteBrian - we are such a fragile yet strong species - always the dichotomy
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie - the suddenness makes it harder to comprehend somehow
June - the grace by which we live - a lovely way to put it, thanks
Steven - the children lost a teacher, the staff a colleague and it's hard to see everyone so suddenly bereft
Tabor, thank you thank you
Thanks, Robyn - we all suffer it and each time it's new and awful
Judith - writing the words down helps...
Barbara - I keep trying to breathe for him, even though it's too late...
Ah Brian H - I like the thought of heart strings - thanks
Hilary - thank you - losing two friends suddenly as I have in the past few weeks is so incomprehensible.
Teri - sometimes the words just pour out. I was uncertain as to whether I should make them public but if they helped you, then I'm glad I did. Thank you for telling me.
I'm so sorry, Pauline. Death and grief are so much worse when there is no time to say goodbye.I'm glad you wrote about it...writing always helps. Take care...xo
ReplyDeleteSometimes we take safety for granted. sorry to hearof your lose.
ReplyDeletePowerful, moving...
ReplyDeletemarion - I had just walked down the hall with him the day before and he was telling me how his life was finally falling into place...
ReplyDeleteOOTP - we do take lots of things for granted - our continuation here being one of them.
Thank you for your kind words, Berowne
Here you are, left to ponder the unfathomable qualities of an untimely death, and you have created a beautiful poem. I am so sorry.
ReplyDeleteP. xo.xo.
ReplyDelete