Image: Grace and me. Apologies to Banksie.
split cringe breathe pieces wings cracks beneath hesitates stretch ship spin chaos
Poets and Storytellers had the prompt "A love story" - I merged the two prompts.
I also put it in dVerse's Open Link
Two Loves
Margaret Kennedy: 05/02/1952 – 11/02/2024
Laurel Kennedy: 05/07/1933 – 11/02/2024
One day, two deaths.
A chaos, half expected.
I hesitate to draw meaning—
I could spin it many ways:
My world cracking, splitting…
But also a release,
In a dark sense, a freedom.
I have moved from being harbour master
To being an unmoored ship.
I resist the urge to cringe away,
To withdraw from a hostile world,
A world that shook beneath me,
A world that stretched
Beyond my vision on that day.
A world that lay in pieces.
Like a new born chick,
I stood on the pieces,
Breathed deeply
And tested my wings.
◊
Quite breath taking. I love the split in the beginning: one day, two deaths. Then the half, then the cracking and splitting. Then a release from a role but the uncertainty ahead needed stability. He didn't recoil in fear. He breathed and grew wings. Very good writing.
ReplyDeleteBeautifull words, Lee.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting ending.
ReplyDeleteI was drawn in right away. Nicely written.
ReplyDelete"I have moved from being harbour master
ReplyDeleteTo being an unmoored ship"
Brilliant! Well done! JIM (stopdraggingthepanda)
Beautifully written "My world cracking, splitting…/But also a release, it sounds like integration of opposite emotions
ReplyDeleteI feel the loss, the sadness, and the resolve Jim — excellent and moving. ✌🏼🫶🏻
ReplyDeleteAlso in death there is a path to resolutions and new ways forward. Love it
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a lot. You've used the words so well to describe both the shock and the going on.
ReplyDeleteOften death is liberating not only for dying, but also for the survivors. Conflicting emotions and a splitting of paths, a parting of ways. I hope the chick flies high!
ReplyDeleteThese lines resonate with me:
ReplyDelete‘I have moved from being harbour master
To being an unmoored ship’
and I love the hope and faith in the testing of wings.
I have seen many who have stood on the broken pieces, finding their wings lately. Power to the people!
ReplyDeleteHeartfelt and uplifting. You described the mixed feelings well.
ReplyDeleteTesting our wings, making every attempt to fly once again, not an easy task .. however essential. A lovely write.
ReplyDeleteKnowing how things come in 3's I don't ever foresee you not dreading that day.
ReplyDeleteSad and powerful poem. I remember that day. You are a very courageous and brave man. Spread your wings and fly again....Rall
ReplyDeletehttps://seachurn.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-sunday-whirl.html
A beautifully composed poem - you convey the love and loss so well and the parting image is touching - Jae
ReplyDeleteStraight from the heart.
ReplyDeleteA world that shook beneath me,
ReplyDeleteA world that stretched
Beyond my vision on that day. - So powerfully said! I deeply relate with this and felt the same since the vulnerable me lost my father decades ago and that too was the 11th of February.
The images of cracking and splitting stay with me. Beautiful ending!
ReplyDeletequite moving - thanks for sharing. I'm sorry for your loss, may their memories be for a blessing.
ReplyDelete