My Darling, Rose

Her clothes hang in the closet.

The room smells of her perfume.

Their bed is dressed with pillows

of antique lace, some heirloom.

The walls are painted eggshell.

Windows are draped floral green,

and a strand of cultured pearls

lays in silence and unseen.

His hat hangs from the bedpost.

Her slippers wait on the floor.

Silence echoes a sad truth

from behind that bedroom door.

He sleeps with her memory,

but his soul can never rest.

She was all he ever loved,

and he loved the very best.

She left him in December

when he woke to find her dead,

and he wept as he held her

and cradled her precious head.

Her lips were lavender blue

like periwinkle in spring,

and her skin was winter’s ash

or a shadow whispering.

He held her there for hours,

could not bear to let her go,

just one more chance, one moment,

and one lifetime more to go.

She was his very best friend,

his companion, and his wife.

She was more than a partner.

She was the wellspring of life.

His clothes hang in the closet.

The room smells of aftershave.

He wore his hat this morning

to visit her at the grave.

He left a fragrant bouquet,

one last gift of love he chose,

then closed his eyes and whispered,

"Here I come, my darling, Rose."

Author's Note

Reviews

[LukewarmLollipop]

You have a serious gift for imagery. Beautiful, I felt as if I could see everything you were describing.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you.

[emmajoy]

Oh. This is my parents in reverse. Not able to say much. How you've managed to write so beautifully when surely when you were writing and since your heart's been sobb ing Don't know, just don't know., can only gue ss.

So many of your phrases are so touchingly real. that ending is.. more than.. 'No good, can't think, but dear Lord, how much i'm feeling, Linda.

' His hat hangs from the bedpost.
Her slippers wait on the floor.
Silence echoes a sad truth
from behind that bedroom door. '

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

You are such a beautiful person, and I am sorry if my words have brought you sadness this evening.

[J. J. Nightingale]

The music touched deeply, and was perfectly fitting..
My husband's clothes still hang in my closet..
I can't bear to let them go..
The last few moments will be with me always..
Love is everlasting.......

Beautiful, soft, real......sad...

Jazzy

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Jazzy,

I am so sorry for your loss but am so thankful that you knew that forever kind of love. I have every faith that you will be together again, and he'll be waiting with open arms. Thank you for reading.

[J. J. Nightingale]

Thank you................................You are welcome... ♥

[Kelly Scheppers]

Such a lovely litany of words, Linda. I cannot imagine loving someone so deeply that it hurts to live without them - to breathe without them. That is how this reads!

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

That love surely exists, and everyone should be blessed to know its kiss. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

[Richard🖌]

I've come to know the origin and history of this poem, and that's what makes it even more amazing than if I'd begun reading it knowing nothing at all.

Linda Marie,
It's a poem I can fall in-love with, despite its poignancy, and it is certainly a work of beauty and originality that sings unto my heart's love of poetry, life, my own ability to empathize, to envision and feel, it travels my emotions' courses, and takes me to a place of sweet tenderness, of sentimentality, in deep and abiding compassion for and with another, that only a learned and earned lifelong of love and bonding could.
How I ached for him in his loss, how you gave him to us, breathed him into us, his moments, his emotions, with your words.
In the final line (though, it's not considered very manly) I wept for him, from the beautifully sad reality of your stunning poetry.
The living picture and ohhh-so sad music … sheer perfection!

Mesmerized is an apt descriptive: I love it Linda Marie … so very dearly.
Thank you truly, dear lady-poet! ⁓ Richard

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Manly or not, I'm glad to hear that you teared up. When I finished and read it for the first time in its completed state, I too wept. That's how I knew it was good. Thank you for such a beautiful, touching review.

[Richard🖌]

My words in review are more a sharing me with you, after you shared you with me. : )

[Paul Bell]

Sad yet so powerful.
Soulmates in life.
Soulmates in death.