Friday 12 July 2013

MOTHER

When my father died my mother -
According to the family style -
Kept going; that he died
Speaking of his Lord to a sick friend
As a saint being saintly,
Comforted. Yet later she admitted
That that day her song-bird
Died in her too.

When her brother Tom died
That was more bitter:
Instantly, in a bookies,
As a sinner being sinful
With no known regard
For grace and faith. Had he,
For eternity,
Backed the wrong horse?

Her brother Bobby’s death
Came to her in an envelope
From an Australian social worker.
If he was a wanderer wandering
She took comfort from two words,
“His Lord”.

Now, day by day, doors close;
A bus is a step too high,
Shops a step too far, “home” -
Her birthplace, a road too long.
In faith and grace, and mild humour,
She keeps going, patient for
Whatever translation
Her Lord has in mind for her.


My mother is now with the Lord; she fell asleep through Jesus very peacefully in the early hours of this morning.  The poem above was written several years ago.  Her time of keeping going is now over.

"We are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord", 2 Corinthians 5: 8.

2 comments:

  1. My heart truly hurts for you. Your loss is truly heavens gain. Praying for you.

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  2. dear david...your sweet mother went to bed that night and she woke up in heaven in the morning...what a blessed promise for you that you know exactly where she woke up!.....with christian love, terry

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I'm glad to hear how this strikes you!