Sunday, March 7, 2010

I Went to Your Grave Today

Here's a poem I wrote in 1998 in memory of Daniel. I placed it
in my first cookbook, Slices of Sunlight.

I went to your grave today,
taking daisies and roses.
I ate lemon poppy seed bread
and felt the warmth of the sun
As I sat on a yellow cloth
watching the children run.

I went to your grave today
and felt the soft wind whistle
and felt the grass tickle my bare feet
and heard the baby cry,
the older ones laugh---
and then I listened for you.

I could not see your face
with its bright blue eyes
Or feel your head on my shoulder.
I could not touch your hands,
for that body is no longer you,
covered in the grave.

It was the brilliance of your soul
that flooded my senses---
it was the radiance of knowing what you are,
And what you have become
That energized my heart
when I went to your grave today.

~ Alice J. Wisler

8 comments:

Kit Tosello said...

beautiful!
the lemon poppyseed bread helped me perceive this with all my senses.

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Thanks, Kit!

Tina said...

Thank you. So beautiful. It is so hard to know what to do for friends who have experienced such loss. I'm glad I have your blog to send them to!

Alice. J. Wisler said...

Thanks, Tina. I appreciate all your concern and help!

Nancye said...

Your poem really touched me.

Unknown said...

Riveting.written with a mother's heart. Deb Kosmer

Alison said...

Your words echo also my feelings - thank you for sharing.
Love
Alison

Alice. J. Wisler said...

I am grateful for all the comments posted here.~Alice