Friends, I’m in utter shock at the events that unfurled for me this morning.
My next-door neighbor through my childhood, my beloved Lilly, who came
to visit me twice in the last eight years and with whom I went “on the road,
galavanting with” last April during NaPoWriMo, died in the early hours of
Monday, Toronto time.
(We visited her and her family once in those eight years too).
Oh, how I wish this were only a bad dream…
Excuse my absence here for the next few days.
I have a heartache…
I have two poems out this week: one at Hotel, and another at Masticadores USA,
and I am not feeling perky enough to attend to them. So if you see them and
engage with them, please know I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart for
reading.
Also, much as it pains me, I will suspend the support project I voluntarily embarked
on to promote Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987-2023 by Dawn Pisturino.
If you missed the two posts out, here they are once more:
Support I: Ariel’s Song Debut
Support II: Dawn Pisturino Interview
Friends, please carry on for me.
Now, I offer you a short poem I wrote minutes ago
while I felt the presence of my Lilly nearby.
this is not a poem about a dream, though it could be
i think i will always be lonely in this
world now—a world where my Lilly is
no more, a world where she is not
there to respond to my texts about a
private joke we memorized like a poem
oh! what will i say to my aching heart about
why the lilies are amiss in the garden—a
white-winged promise of summer. in a new dream
about travel, we promised to meet again, though
the odds are against us this time and it
seems nothing in this world is as it could
—oh! without my Lilly, lonely is how I will be.
© selma
* “This is not a poem about
a dream, though it could be.”
~ Mary Oliver: Five A.M in the Pinewoods
- Day 27: NaPoWriMo 2024–Opt Out of An American Sonnet - April 27, 2024
- Day 26: NaPoWriMo 2024 Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance - April 26, 2024
- Reblog: “Snap-beans in a Wooden Bowl”(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley - April 26, 2024
Blessings to you, dear Selma. Your lovely poem speaks for your heart and holds your tears. I send love. ❤️
Thanks for the words, dear Gwen 🤗
Beautiful poem, Selma. I’m sorry for your loss. 🌷🩷
Thanks for being here, Maria. 🤗
Peace, Selma. You have my sincerest and warmest condolences. May there be peace to greet and guide you soon. 🙏🏾💙
trE, thanks. Bless you for the sincere wishes. 🤗🤗
🙏🏾💙 You’re most welcome.
I am so sorry for your loss 🙏
Pooja. Thanks so much 🤗
You’re very welcome 💕
I’m so sorry for your loss dear friend. Sending you love and warm hugs.
Received your warmth. Thanks, Sadje 🤗
Hugs 🤗
Very emotional words write you in porm. Nice poem, Selma! I’m so sorry for your loss dear friend. Sending you love and warm hugs. God blessing!
Thanks so much, Raj 🤗
Dear Selma, take care. Sending you hugs and prayers.
Feels good to receive them, Punam. Thank you so much 🤗
You are so welcome. 🤗
I am sorry for your sadness and the loss that you feel, Selma. Great peace to you.
I do feel so lost. Thank you for being here, Suzette. Bless you for commenting 🤗
Sending prayers of comfort Selma. Grace and peace to you! Hugs.
Selma, I am so sorry for your loss. May my prayers help to lift you up and give you a bit of strength.
❤️
This is so sweet, DAP. Thank you so much. 🤗 🙏
Wishing you comfort and peace, Selma!
Thanks so very much, Cheryl. 🤗
<3 I am so sorry, selma. this must be a terrible loss for you –
Terrible 😢
Thanks for the kind support in my time of loss. Bless you, Beth 🤗
So sorry for your loss Selma 🙏
Maggie, thanks so much 🤗
Selma 🙏🙏
Oh, Selma, I’m so sorry for your loss! I feel how devastated you are! My thoughts and prayers are with you. You helped me so much! Thank you! I will look for your poems. God bless you and keep you well.
Oh Dawn. Forgive that I couldn’t finish what I started with the purest of intentions. I’ll pick up where I left off…
Thanks for the sweet words. Bless you 🤗
Dearest Selma, my deepest condolences. How tragic, losing someone you were so very close to. What a beautiful tribute you wrote for your friend. Thinking of you. 💐🌸
Thanks for thinking of me, dear Drema. Your words are comforting. Bless you 🤗
Selma, I’m so very sorry about your friend’s passing. May you find peace through her memory. 🙏🏻💖
Many memories. We were best friends since forever
I cannot believe this!
Thanks for the comforting words, Colleen. 🤗
I’m so very sorry, Selma. I wish I could give you a huge hug, my friend. 💖
🤗 🤗
So sorry for your loss, Selma 🙏
Thanks, Ingrid. A big loss for me. Thanks for your words. 🤗
Selma, you have my sympathy in your loss of a dear friend. Hold on to the good memories.
Yes, I have many happy memories. Thanks so much for your comforting comment, dear Lynn. Bless you. 🤗
Sorry for your loss, and what a beautiful way to remember her.
Thank you, sweetest Diana. I bless you. 🤗
🙂🥰
So sorry Selma. (K)
K, thanks dearly 🤗
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, Selma. I’m sending you love!
Barbara. 🙇🏽♀️ Thanks so much dear friend. Your words are comforting. Bless you 🤗
♥️🌹🙏
Well done Selma❣️
Thanks so much, Aana
Blessings
I’m so very sorry
Your poem speaks louder than words – The emotion is palpable. I’m sorry for your loss of your friend, Selma. Sending you love and hugs 🤗 💐
You’re sweet, Lesley. Thanks for the holler and so pleased you found this to your liking my sweet.