Nothing changes, but everything has

Our beautiful friend Deb passed on 13/08/21 after her second, brief battle with cancer.

In the grand scheme of things, in life,
nothing has really changed, but everything has.
The sun still rises lighting eastern skies
then falls, ceding the heavens to a pallid moon,
tides ebb and flow, their calming shushing washing shingled shores,
fetching and carrying, fetching and carrying, fetching...
The tick and tock of time, relentless, moves forward
with seconds changing to minutes, to hours, days, weeks, months,
this passing of time ushering in the season's change,
summer into autumn, into winter, into spring,
the season of new life, rebirth, but not yours,
for you now sleep eternally, peacefully, somewhere beyond this life
in the arms of the angels.

We didn't send a card, couldn't find the words,
and what use tear stained ink to broken hearts anyway, what use.
Even now as this written, what words could do justice,
could explain the numbness, disbelief,
the feeling of loss at your sudden passing
and how sadly you are missed, will always be missed...

Is it peaceful up in heaven
have you angel wings to fly,
can you hear our veiled hearts beating
can you see the tears we cry.

Will you visit in the small hours
come sit and chat awhile,
reminisce about good times spent
upon our faces paint a smile.

And will you hold us in your angel heart
as we in ours hold you,
until the time we meet again
when our lives they too are through.

Reviews

[Lorry]

We only ever fully appreciate someone when they are measured by their absence. The space they took up or the smiles shared or voice on the other end of the line, but it is all these things and more, gathered together into a life that you knew and shared for a brief point in time. But that brief point in time feels so much more than the sum of its parts and can truly only find its true purpose in the act of being fondly remembered.
That's all the epitaph we need, isn't it?
We'll see them all again Gee, life always has a way of ending with "To be continued" music playing us out, until we are thought of once more.
Hoping you and yours are well and getting through this "this" as best we can.

[Gee]

Hi Lorry, thanks. Have had a house full of Covid, wife and ma in law,, this contracted at the funeral I think.
Been a bit of a shite time :)
Hope you are keeping well.

[emmajoy]

Death has become more than personal these days, we're saturated by media but then.. then, what makes it even worse is the loss of someone loved. Your words pull at heart strings with a light hand, Gee; you don't roar for sympathy or agreement as to feelings. You tell, you share and .. behave best you can, that's how it goes. Whatever, memories will cling like limpets - for the good and comforting, for the bad and wretched. Such a sadness here..

[Gee]

Debs passing has hit so many really hard. She was the life and soul, a matriarch figure, funny, loving and as kind as kind can be.
During the early years of her marriage I was the third wheel, often leading her hubby astray on drinking sessions returning him to her arms in all manner of states :) Many a time she sat me down and read me the riot act.
I'll miss her greatly as will many others.
Thank you for your words:))

[emmajoy]

A friend like that reminds me of an ever floating spirit who never loses energy. How special she was.. is.. and always will be, dear man, and - everyone who'll wrap her memory around them

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This is so sad and beautiful at the same time.
and unfortunately I can relate so well. I had two friends who beat cancer, then it came back and got both of them. It was double fright and double sadness.
So sorry for your loss.
j.

[Gee]

This death is so, so hard to cometo terms with as I have known Debs for 45 years and her husband 50.
Thank you Jacob

[Kelly Scheppers]

Death takes the body, God takes the soul. Our mind holds the memories, our heart keeps the love. Our faith lets us know - we will meet again.

[Gee]

Thank you for dropping in Kelly

[Cherrie Palmer]

It's beautiful and reflective and expresses your loss and your hope for Heaven.

[Gee]

Thank you Cherie

[Eilis]

Your first stanza is beautifully lyrical, Gee. I feel like your poetry always gets to the heart of some of the most painful emotions and you do so with grace and beauty. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. I have lost a few loved ones to cancer and do understand. I also believe that sometimes those we've lost are still with us in whatever mysterious way that is possible. I really appreciate the honesty of your poem. The doubt and grief and uncertainty and finally the earnest remembrance. I suppose the most we can do for those who are lost is honor their memory and try to keep it alive. All my best to you in this difficult time.

[Gee]

Thank You Eilis, always appreciate your visits and words.
Hope you are well

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Gee. So sorry for the loss of such a dear friend. Each line here speaks to me of the raw grief you are living. It is so incredibly painful when that final parting comes. Yes, everything carries on in the time clock of nature's cycle reminding us of how small we are in the overall picture and reminding us, that our days are numbered too. We too shall pass.

Love this beautiful offering.

Chris

[Gee]

Thanks Christine. Debs death has properly floored us all as she was the life and soul of all that we did, a matriarch figure full of life, love and happiness.
Hope you are keeping well

[Chris Shaw]

All reasonable, could be better but..... So sorry about your Debs :(

[Ruth]

I am so sorry to hear of your friend's passing Gee. Grief is such a delicate, painful thing - my best friend died 3 years ago (mid October) and I am still dazed and in denial I guess...he was my best friend of 25 years though so it has left a void...may the days be kind to you Gee...sometimes it helps to know we do not go through such things alone...this is a beautiful poem.

[Gee]

Thanks Ruth. Have spent the last 4 weeks trusting to find words that would sun up the feelings of our friendship group. Hopefully this piece has come somewhere near.
Hope you are well