navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #47 » Chatting To My Best Friend
Open Poetry #47
Post A Reply Post New Topic Chatting To My Best Friend Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2011-03-20 07:15 PM


CHATTING TO MY BEST FRIEND
9 March 2011

It’s such fun to chat to you,
about this and that -
and that and this -
and to ask you for things
and explain why I am asking
although I know
you know
anyway,
but it’s fun to explain
to you
and you have never
told me
that I talk too much
and you always have time to listen.
It’s also such fun
to speak to you about your gifts to me.

And, talking about your gifts to me,
there is Tania, my firstborn,
even though, as you know, my dear friend, God,
she has barely spoken to me
in twenty years
and the best she can come up with is that
I wasn’t there for her –
I brought her and her younger brother up alone
from when she was four and he was one
when divorce was the only solution
and I adored them both
and did the best I could for them
and introduced them
to as many things that matter
as I could
and they loved them all,
but sadly
that doesn’t count with her
any more.
As you know, dear God,
I have always been there for my daughter
and always will,
no matter whether she sees it or not
in case she decides one day
that a mother can come in handy.

Then there is my son, Chris
of whom I am so proud,
on whom the community relies,
who wears his integrity
inside and out
who has his father’s
and his mother’s
and his own
sense of humour
and who
from early childhood,
had wisdom and skill
way beyond his years,
and could fix almost anything
with his hands,
his brain,
his advice,
his heart.

Recent gifts of yours, my dear friend, God,
were all those miracles for
our Earth Angel, Linda,
and thank you for her wonderful spirit
which has inspired us
and healed her
and, of course, our Linda.
We are so lucky –
no, we are so blessed -
to have her at Pip
and in our hearts.

Then, there is your gift
of a constant heartful
of all the fur-babies,
I ever, ever had,
from Woofie, the very first –
I have a photo of him
on my tricycle -
to my today-babies, Benji and Cleo
whom Flicka and Tigger and Daisy,
my ache-babies,
sent me on the last day of last year.
Fur-babies are my breath
and my hope
and what we share
is reciprocal, unconditional and unlimited love.
They are my smiles,
my health,
my contentment,
my joy,
my laughter,
my solace,
my peace,
from the inside out
and are my friends,
my house-children,
my confidantes.

But then, dear God,
you know all this –
yet you let me babble on
because you know I enjoy
saying it all,
and feeling it all
in the process.
You know my joys
my tears
my fears
my passions
my secrets
my craving to learn
more and more
about all things under the sun
how mysteries beg me to solve them
how challenges dare me to overcome them
how, like Hannibal, I love it when a plan comes together.

Well, God, I daresay, I had better get back to work,
today being Wednesday when I am at home
and I have an even more jampacked day
than at work.  

Thanks for the chat.  We’ll talk again soon.

Owl

[This message has been edited by OwlSA (03-20-2011 08:51 PM).]

© Copyright 2011 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
1 posted 2011-03-20 07:27 PM


I can most assuredly 'relate' to parts of this 'write' ... my (non)relationship with my daughter is almost identical ...
and 'fur purrrson' kitties and other critters do make very fine friends as unconditional love seems to be innately
characteristic of them (would that the same be much more readily true of humans!).

dreamgal
Member
since 2011-03-17
Posts 442

2 posted 2011-03-20 07:31 PM


I know my mother can relate to this my sister hasnt talked to her for a while me either for that matter (unconditional love right?) And my mother lost my father 2 yrs ago its really sad I couldnt do that to my mother as a mom myself I know we are notperfect and it sounds like you were a wonderful mother and we all do the best we can your poetry reflected that ((((Hugs)))))).
dreamgal
Member
since 2011-03-17
Posts 442

3 posted 2011-03-20 07:32 PM


Oh and I forgot to mention I actually wrote a poem today called "Princess" check it out its about uncondtional love from your pet.
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
4 posted 2011-03-20 08:44 PM


Thanks, Bruce and dreamgal for your replies.  Dreamgal, I replied to your poem, Princess, before I posted this poem.

Owl

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
5 posted 2011-03-21 06:29 PM


Oh, my dear, dear friend Diana. Reading this spill from your heart has affected me deeply.
In spite of your pains and losses in life, you have soldiered on admirably and God has given you many blessings in return. Your son is so much like you in that you both selflessly give back to your community and to each other. Hopefully, in time, your daughter will come to know how much her mother is loved and respected by people all around the world.
~ and thank you for playing such a huge role in bringing me back to health by keeping that post in Discussion/Announcements going for 2 months! You're a wonder and so full of love.

Give hugs and kisses from Auntie Linda to all your precious pets (Above and Below ~ here on Earth, I mean! ) and keep some for yourself.

I love you, girlfriend!

Linda xo

Alison
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
6 posted 2011-03-22 01:29 AM


This is special because I think it has a universal message that spans time and ages.  I have three sisters and I am the only one who really is close to my Mom.  It's sad.  And, I love that Linda is in your chat.  Very special wriing, Diana.

xoxoox
Alison

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
7 posted 2011-03-22 11:09 AM


My very dear friend, Linda, thank you for your soul-delighting response!  Yes, I have received so many, many blessings – not the least of them, your return journey to health!  

Chortles of delight at your explaining that you meant Earth and not Hell!  As though ANY animal could go to Hell – for one of many reasons why they don’t go there, they simply don’t know the way!  Also as though you, Linda, could possibly have meant Hell!  I know you so well and I know that you know that I know that you know that I know (and so on) that ALL animals go to Heaven!  But thanks for explaining anyway!  Beeeeeeg smiles!

And thanks for the hugs and kisses for me, but very especially thanks for the hugs and kisses for all my precious animals in Heaven and on Earth.  They, too, say a beeeeeeeeeg thank you each in whinnies and meows and barks!

I love you lots, too, and you just keep on getting better, but to do that, don’t forget to rest, REST, REST!

Thank you, Alison, for your lovely reply.  It is very sad that you are the only one of 4 sisters who is close to your Mom, but it is also wonderful that you are.  At least she has one of you – but that is very tough on you and puts a lot of pressure on you that I can imagine – and probably tons more that I can’t imagine without being in your moccasins. I love that you love that Linda was in my chat with my dear friend, God.  Hugs and wishes for warmer weather.

Owl

Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
8 posted 2011-03-22 03:11 PM


If our children turn away from us sometimes it's to find their own ground. Inevitably they return when their feet are firmly planted in life and they've learned what's really important. Nothing can replace a mother's love. Keep your friendship with God close to you, it's all you really need and it's everything.  

I really enjoy your poetry.

Namaste,
Marcia


steavenr
Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058

9 posted 2011-03-23 12:38 PM


truly a chat I can appreciate ...an honest and open write, filled with heart-wrenching emotion that tugs at every fiber of being...just remember that old saying, "it is better to love than be loved."  Perhaps it is a little simplistic and trite, but it comes in handy we get to that point in our lives when we begin to believe that love un-returned is love spurned...passing along joy and smiles to you...
Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
10 posted 2011-03-24 10:25 AM


It was a pleasure and a privilege to eavesdrop on your touching chat with your Best Friend, dear Diana.

Gratitude is your top feeling and this defines you ever so clearly. You are a beautiful soul.

The mother-daughter relationship is often very complex, but as life goes on hope grows that sensitivity, understanding and experience may help to heal the bond.

Love and hugs.
Margherita

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
11 posted 2011-03-24 01:55 PM


Thank you, Marcia.  In the case of my daughter, I am pretty certain it isn’t to find her own ground.  It is an image she wants and created and doesn’t want to lose – that her mother wasn’t there for her, but thanks for the kindness and compassion, anyway, Marcia.  Yes, you are right.  I keep my friendship with God, my best friend, close to me.  

Thank you, Steaven.  Yes, simplistic and trite or not, I agree that “it is better to love than to be loved” and I would rather it is this way round than my daughter loving me and me not loving her.  Thank you for the joy and the smiles.  Wishing you the same in return.

Thank you, Margherita.  Giggling with delight at your eavesdropping my chat with my Best Friend.  Yes, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you are right, I do have so much gratitude for so many things.  When the ache for Flicka, Tigger and Daisy becomes unbearable, I think, amongst many other things, of two in particular – firstly that I was so very blessed to have had Flicka, Tigger and Daisy as gifts, and secondly the mathematical equation of the pain of the loss equals the blessing of the gift.  

I love that you think I am a beautiful soul – but I feel a need to confess there is a lot of me that isn’t, but I do try.  

There seem to be so many mother-daughter relationships that are so perfect, but I realise too that there are many that aren’t.  Somehow, I doubt that anything will heal the bond – I have tried everything I can think of and nothing has worked.  Now I am going back to waiting and praying.  But thanks for the kind, compassionate encouragement.  

Owl

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
12 posted 2011-04-02 01:04 AM


Hugging you, Diana.
               Ida

Klassy Lassy
Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187
Oregon
13 posted 2011-04-02 10:24 PM


The heart's desire....  my response is emotional, being a mom and wanting the closeness of family to be truth, too,  as I read your conversation. It is a very tender and vulnerable repartee. Knowing that we are heard always, maybe even when we don't want to be, comforts me, too as I ponder the deep things of heart that seem to have no answer.     ~KL
ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
14 posted 2011-04-02 10:39 PM


Thanks for sharing your heart's expressions Diana.
I love the open honesty in this piece.
Those talks with the almighty are inspired to give you a spiritual infusion of endurance.
He listens!
He gets blamed for things he shouldn't get blamed for but still he's there for you.

Loved this.
Never give up hope, your children are still your children and they will come back to you some day.
Can't change the past so optimism about the future is like a drink of cool fresh spring water.

Eric

true love never looks after it's own interests

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
15 posted 2011-04-03 10:29 AM


Will come back and try to reply properly in a minute.  Just wanted to say I have had about 5 minutes connection in the last at least 24 hours.  Hope I can complete a reply.  Am going on to wireless connection about this Wednesday or next, so hopefully problems will be over then – or Internet connection ones anway!  LOL!

Owl

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
16 posted 2011-04-03 10:34 AM


Whew!  Got the previous one in!  Hope this goes in too.

Thank you, Ida.  You are a sweetie.

Thank you, Karen for your very kind and understanding reply.  Yes, that is comforting.

Thank you, Eric.  You, too, are very kind and understanding, and so right.

Owl

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #47 » Chatting To My Best Friend

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary