Three Who Came Before (Poetry)

[SeaDruid]

Three Who Came Before

My Father passed when I was ten
In my memory, only bits.
Tobacco pouch, machinist tools
Bicycle, shaving kit
Cacti, gourds, grapefruit tree
Puppy, fishing trip.
Supported us, his family
Long nights, graveyard shift.
He rose one day to heat some milk
His heart stopped there and then.

My Brother passed at forty-five
I barely knew his face.
He fled when I was just a child
To run a different race.
A faster life in Hollywood
Boozing, fights, police
Jail cells, sleeping on the floor
No home on his release.
Fled again to Hawaiian sands
Cancer, throat, he died.

My Mother passed not long ago
At the age of eighty five
She lived alone after Father passed
She’d be no other’s wife.
Laughter bright, smile of cheer
She weathered this life’s grief.
She cheated death more than once
On the strength of her belief.
Though many seasons we knew life
It all seems now so brief.
Cancer claimed her life at last
She lies with dad under snow.

And as I walk the Sacred Grove
These Three walk with me.
And when I call my Ancestor kin
It’s these Three that I see.
And others too in countless rows
From endless ages past
Father, Mother, Brother dear!
Grandfathers back countless years!
Oh Shining Ones and Spirits near
To you I raise my glass!

[Luned]

I don't have anything eloquent to say, just that this was very touching. Thank you for sharing it.

~Luned~

[Underground River]

Very sad, SeaDruid. Also very well-written. You are very brave to open up your heart like that. Thank you for sharing this poem.
Sincerely,
GreenDruid

[FallingLeaves]

Very moving........ thank you seadruid

[Kaya-Nita]

Seadruid my heart is with you, i lost my mother to a drunk driver when i was 16 just before my 17th birthday and christmas six months before that i lost my fiance to a motorcycle accident that i unfortunatly witnessed and my mother had been my rock. When she died my brothers went one way and i went an other to foster families. So in a sense my family died when she did. Both brothers mixed up in drugs and booze and i wanted nothing to do with it...really is a shame.

Your poem brought back some wondeful memories of mom and i just cuddling in bed and talking about anything and everything and this was when i was 16. i could tell her any thing and every thing honesty was our friend as much as she was a friend and mother. As i cuddle with my daughter i see days of me and my mother and it feels good to know i can pass this to her as well.

[Crow]

Beautifully written, openly shared. Thank you.

[Jeb]

And others too in countless rows
From endless ages past
Father, Mother, Brother dear!
Grandfathers back countless years!
Oh Shining Ones and Spirits near
To you I raise my glass!

And so shall they live on, not only in the next world, but also in this one, well-remembered and well-honoured.

Thank you so much for sharing such a deeply personal and touching poem.

[Brigantiorum Jihana]

SeaDruid: that was a lovely, moving poem, sad & wistful but with a touch of optimism at the end.

Regards,

Jihana

[Kat Lady]

And so shall they live on, not only in the next world, but also in this one, well-remembered and well-honoured.

Can't add much more than this: it touched me. Thank you.

[Caritas]

Sitting here, crying again....Wow - that is powerful!
Thank you, SeaDruid.
blessings, Caritas