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Open Poetry #9
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Tears For Joseph
| Open Poetry #9 |
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Tears For Joseph |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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Tears For Joseph She held his tiny body tenderly against her breast. Her eyes brimmed with tears as her fingers explored every inch of him. She traced lines across his alabaster face, created little curls in his ebony hair, and counted each finger, every toe; searching for any sign of imperfection. “His name is Joseph and oh, he’s perfect, isn’t he?” she whispered. I could only nod my head fearing my voice would betray me as I tried to hide behind the facade of professionalism. “Please take care of him,” her quivering voice begged. And as my hands reached to take his cold, still body from her arms, my eyes met hers and I began to cry. What lies behind us and lies before us are small matters compaired to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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| © Copyright 2000 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Ruth - This is wonderful - My family recently experienced the same loss - It's quite devastating, and you (again) manage to put indescribable emotions into words.. Nice to see you post..  |
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One Who Understands Member
since 2000-01-20
Posts 251Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
That was strikingly wonderful. How sobering. |
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brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
Ruth, I am left stunned both by the great sadness and excellence of the piece. "I concede relationships have left me weak Won't be here so I don't care Look for something worthy to replace my guilt" Mansun legacy |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Absolutely heartwrenching, Ruth... |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Ruth, simply moving. Tears here......... |
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Wilfred Yeats Member Elite
since 2000-08-04
Posts 2704Wilmington, Delaware |
I've never had to face this in Maternity- and you should know - I've visited Pediatrics - and had to leave to hide my tears - Seeing adults in extremis in triage or anywhere in a hospital is tough enough- that I chose another profession - you've described the hardest scene - (tears here without seeing) |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Oh Ruth... |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Ohh Ruth, this so heartwrenching, very moving. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you everyone, sometimes this just has to come out...either that or a person suffers job burn out  |
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Mark R. Member
since 1999-06-25
Posts 113San Francisco, CA. |
I understand completely. As you know I work in surgery and there came time when we also delivered a premature infant, which through various complications didn't make it to the nursery. The emotions that poured out of the parents hit me head on. I was caught off guard never thinking that I would react the way that I did. A single tear escaped me and from that day on. Life has meant so much to me and I thank the good "Lord" above that I'm alive. Great poem, keep them coming. |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Good morning hoot_owl_rn, I read what you have written, and swelled inside with my sincere emotions for Joseph. This did really touch me. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
You have shared this sad birth with compassion and clarity...James |
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Dee Member Elite
since 2000-08-19
Posts 2330Queensland, Australia |
This brings back old tears and sadness, but I thank you for that. Dee |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you everyone Mark...I understand |
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