Is your God warming his hands 'neath his bum ?

Desperate times raise questions

That he should die alone
his hand not held,
brow not kissed,
whispered words of comfort, love,
neither said nor heard
the final straw.
Filled with anger, pain, confusion she left,
leaving behind her shattered heart,
gold chain and crucifix.

Author's Note

Stories of folk dying without loved ones holding their hands as they slip away are now not uncommon, so, so sad

Reviews

[Linxer]

Wow Gee. I think this poem is especially resonant right now, given the pandemic. Not only do your verses tell their own story, but the principle could easily be applied to sufferers of Corona - those who've died probably didn't even get a proper send-off from loved ones. You'd want to give someone you cared about one last hug before they went, but can't touch them in case they give it to you. Very poignant piece of writing :)

[Gee]

Thank you kindly :))

[John the Baptist]

Having worked in a chronic disease hospital, where most of the patients were elderly, some alone, I can relate to this one. I can see why some become disillusioned.

[Gee]

Good morning John, hope you are keeping well. Thank you

[Pete]

ashes to ashes and dust to dust. sad indeed. compassion seems to take a back seat. everyday we lose a piece of our humanity. dramatic ending. you pose an age old question - where is god in the suffering? evil triumphs when good people do nothing. powerfully thought provoking ... :)

[Gee]

Thanks Pete.
Hope you are safe and well.

[barleygirl]

This is the kind of title that makes us think deeply about what's going on in this world! But your message is something different than that (to me) . . . people dying alone, for some reason, is one aspect of this crisis that NOBODY has mentioned in this way . . . it's as if people are so caught up in the inconvenience of it all, the dying has been overlooked. I am a little stunned by the dying myself, as we DOUBLE the virus deaths in just a couple days!!!!! I love how you are one of the most thoughtful & caring writers I know at the cafe (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Gee]

So many dying across the globe but many more still to meet their end. The BBC showed a refugee camp the other day that spread as far as the eye could see, thousand upon thousand living cheek by jowl. Imagine the horrors of places such as this has the virus visit :(
Thoughtful and caring...thank you so much :)))
Hope you are well.

[barleygirl]

Thank you for jerking us from our self-absorbed whining . . . the refugee image you just painted says it all . . .

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is one of the saddest things about all this....dying alone...no one should die alone...but to be safe, it almost has to happen...unfortunately.
a sad reality you write here.
j.

[Gee]

Thank you Jacob.
Hope you are Covid free and playing tennis against the back wall of your house :))
Take care

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, Covid free..and actually 5 of us played yesterday at the courts...no one near us and we kept a distance from each other..was really good tennis...a cop car went by, but didn't stop. they are allowing exercise outdoors if we are keeping our distance...tennis once a week, that is helping keep some sanity....this isolation and forced quarantine is necessary right now, but the days just bleed into one another, all the same...reading, napping, eating, writing...but ....well you know.

[Gee]

Good on you Jacob. Hopefully these shite times will pass us by, sooner rather than later, and the hum drum normality of everyday living can and will be embraced :)
How long before the moaning about boring days sets back in.
Take care

[Ted Kniffen]

Well spoken Gee. These are indeed strange times, made worse by the doubling down of the media hype that is inescapable. People are terrified thinking that if they contract this virus they will die.
In the case of your poem, dying isn't the issue, dying alone is.
Ontario is considering blocking the gathering of more than 5 people now. But at least they are going to go after the profiteers and scammers in a big way.

Well done friend...stay safe.

[Gee]

Hi Ted, our Gov has advised gatherings of no more than 2 people and only key workers to be going out to their jobs ! That should decimate the economy and plunge us headlong into recession, but needs must I guess.
All safe and well so far with us, touch wood, both the wife and daughter are working from home and the ma in law only ventured from her room to eat, smoke and empty her incontinent pants :))
Hope you and yours are all safe and well.
Thank you :))

[Ted Kniffen]

Yes, we are well so far. The son-in-law is a respiratory therapist in one of Detroit's big hospitals so there is always concern for him.
We'll get through this as we have a lot of others.

Take care friend...stay safe.

[emmajoy]

As I read the poem's title, i actually said OUCH! Then, read your moving words and understood,, Gee. So many doubts right now. Know you and many others will feel desperately sad, there will be, have been, so many dying alone. But maybe many were able to feel their God, their Creator was there to say goodbye yet welcome them home. Need to add that point.

Right now, yes, families are torn apart, many by thousands of miles. Not being bedside to say,
'Goodbye, darlin, love you' is in itself a killer. When our Josh died we went to Italy. He knew we were there, we had to be. Very different circumstances, i know. That's how it should be now, were it not for this evil virus. Memories are raw but thank self if not your God,for them. Wrap them close.

Written too much; but your and similar posts are sort of challenging my feelings. its NOT easy.

[Gee]

Hi Emmaj.
It isn't easy to stay positive but this old fella does :) I'm of the mindset that if I didn't cause the problem and cannot control it then no point worrying. There are many clever, clever folk out there who are working 24/7 on our behalf trying to both stem the spread and find a vaccine.
As for dying alone, tis criminal, well I think so.
What is written next is not aimed in any way shape or form at you, but many a religious bod claim all good on God's behalf then shovel all bad elsewhere, I cannot get my head around that. Surely the big fella should take responsibility for all...no ??
Anyways, try not to fret m'dear, it is what it is and if it's meant for you it won't go by you.
Stay safe :))

[emmajoy]

I go from wondering how/when the Power I've always believed in will show me the way out of this disaster. Know people think differently.. and think, doubt is creeping in right now.. have llost a friend, had another good friend and my dear Caro diagnosed.. sure there are others.. so i want them back, safe, sound. And so.. i doubt yet more.

Your post is as it should be. Times like this we need to question, discuss - with respect. Maybe in the not too distant future answers will be displayed loud and clear, Gee. Not fretting, would I evah.. here with a beacon to hold hands and hug.. and its all virtual! Take care, keep safe, you and your darlings.

[Gee]

So sorry for your loss :(
Good times will come again and the present ills will become faded memories, memories that should spur each and everyone of us on to appreciate all that we have and all of those that we love.
You take good care of yourself missy :)

[emmajoy]

Re.reading your words, are almost printed in stone these days, so many tears. But needs a holding of hands here there and everywhere.. offering a bar of soap or half of milk or merelya quick hug. OR whispering a prayer that near sticks in the throat but just might comfort. Who knows. So hope you and your darlings are safe and sound, Gee.

[Gee]

Good morning, all good here in overcast and chilly MK. Thank you

[emmajoy]

That's good and - how life should be..

[augustus]

During these troubled times, it is best just to remember the joys of when your loved ones were alive!

[Chris Shaw]

So wise Augustus, so wise.

[Gee]

As Chris so rightly said, wise words Augustus.
Hope you are safe and well.
Thank you

[Chris Shaw]

It is cruel beyond cruel. Many of those dying, suffering a second helping of off the graph terror, as they had to endure in the last world war when as children they lived with bombings and death every day. If I thought they would earn eternal peace in the heavens it might make it a degree easier to bear, but my faith has diminished with each and every year that passes. This is mother nature's revenge. We had it coming. Stay safe Gee.

Chris

[Gee]

Anything bad the religious blame on mankind, all good is down to God. Funny that !
Hope you and yours are safe and well Chris. All good here.
Take care :))
Thank you

[Rania M]

This is no way to leave. No way to depart this world for good folks who lived good lives, hardworking, honest and true. Such indignity and heartbreak heaped on them. There must be something better on the other side. It had better be!

[Gee]

Well, one things for sure, we will find out one day :))
Thank you Rania

[Rania M]

Just seems so surreal, unreal. Can’t believe what’s happening. It has yet to sink in. I hope it goes away soon.

[Gee]

Me too. I'm lucky that I am still able to get to work but I have a feeling that will not be the case in the very near future, and when that happens I will go stir crazy.

[Rania M]

Yeah. As the PM said it will get worse before it gets better. We’ll just have to wait it out my friend. A book, a workout, a poem a day...

[Gee]

Or coffee, cake and comatosing :)

[Rania M]

Sounds good. As long as the buttons on my genes don’t start practising social distancing :)

[Gee]

Great line, the buttons one, can I steal it ?

[Rania M]

Oh yes Gee why not! ;) If it results in a lovely poem I’m all for it!