A Once Great Man Sits Silently

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Open Poetry #41

A Once Great Man Sits Silently

Xillus_Xavier
Member

since 2007-10-05

Posts 72
Alabama

0 posted 2007-12-19 08:50 PM

This poem is not about me and my father. This is not my situation (I hope it never is). I wrote this from the experiences I've had with other families going through this.

A Once Great Man Sits Silently
******************************

This withered man
I slowly feed,
once held the spoon for me.

What once were strong -
two working hands -
now stiff and idle tools.

The empty eyes,
where pride once shined
a shade to shame the sea,

were waned of light
a year ago -
now flameless, shallow pools.

I spill some soup
upon the knee
where bouncing kids once played.

It's sad to think
the spring within -
has no more rides to grant.

The lifeless lips,
where smiles once grew -
a silent, barren glade.

I only wish
he'd speak to me.
Regretfully...he can't.

This once great man sits silently,
in Winters bitter glaze.

The tables turned; our roles reversed -
these cruel and final days.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2007-12-19 09:36 PM

You inhabit some great compassion
to see so clearly
and to know, so dearly...

Well done, XX

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

2 posted 2007-12-19 10:49 PM

I think "the great man" wrote this sensitive ans compassionate poem.
Ida

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

3 posted 2007-12-20 04:32 AM

Fine writing...James

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

4 posted 2007-12-20 01:01 PM

Xillus, this touches deep deep. It's a precious compassionate sensitive write. It hurts terribly, but this is the reality of many.
You made surface memories of my husband when he had a brain stroke and was half paralyzed and just like you say I helped him eat ... it was tremendous, he didn't remember anything. He recovered well thanks to God and is again able to recite Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy!

But it's a tough situation to witness and most of the time there is no happy end.

Wonderful poem!

Love,
Margherita

LindsayP
Member Elite

since 2007-07-28

Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria

5 posted 2007-12-20 07:50 PM

Yes it really was a wonderful poem,

compassionate and thought provoking and very well written.

Lindsay

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.