The Last Letter - A Divine Challenge

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!

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2011-01-30 09:00 PM

The Last Letter

If I had but one pen
Filled with blackest ink
To place upon God’s
Finest linen
Parched white,

Might I then leave this trace?
Look behind, a bit of quaking
By your leave,
A bit of word to once
Again heave

That heavy heart of
Loss, so great, so
Cheerless, so vain in
It's contempt that others
Yet live.

Aye, but you saw this
Coming, Death, so vapidly clear,
So fulfilled by having taken
Life, it had to have its ending
Now.

Yet, I would try but once
More to reach, past Death, beyond
This veil, that shields me
From you, but O God, I
Would achieve this endeavor

For once we loved, and once
We held love close, so close,
My dear heart, that great ache
Of separation could not even be
Conceived, and yet

Here we are, on this cusp
Of coming, and going,
This give and take of life
Ever more clear in
Death…

You held me in those final
Moments, ever so close, ever so
Tenderly, as if not to bruise me,
Though break I never would, only
Close my eyes

To perceive His radiance! My love,
It beckoned me beyond you,
And yet, woulds’t thou but
Allow me one last
Yearning, I should then

Take but one pen
Filled with blackest ink
To place upon God’s
Finest linen
Parched white,

Might I then leave this trace?
Look behind, a bit of waking
By your leave,
A bit of word to once
Again heave

A breath into your soul,
To await one day, a lone
Good moment, dear heart,
When we shall meet again,
By my promise, by this,

My Last Letter

©Karilea Rilling Jungel
30 December 2001

Poet deVine's Challenge: Write a poem in the form of a loveletter - it can be to anyone and it can be affirming love, saying goodbye to love (Dear John style) or could be a love letter to a child or parent or friend...

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

1 posted 2011-01-30 09:15 PM

I have read this twice. You capture so very much herein. The words, as I read them silently took on a very strange meaning to me. I almost shuddered it affected me so. In my opinion this poem (love letter) was written with such tenderness and reaching out even as you spoke to the one in your heart you were preparing the way for your own transition's journey.

I loved this poem. Keeping it.

~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~

JerryPat
Senior Member

since 2010-10-30

Posts 1991
Louisiana/America

2 posted 2011-01-30 09:17 PM

P.S.: I'm not much on challenges, but I will in the next day or so try to come up with my own version.

~ What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? / Anyone Can Roast Beef. ~

steavenr
Member Elite

since 2003-11-17

Posts 4058

3 posted 2011-01-30 09:20 PM

this was beautiful...but, then I am a sucker for any write that contains both 'wouldst thou' and 'by your leave.' There is a classy elegance to it...thank you for sharing your "Last Letter"

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

4 posted 2011-01-31 09:13 AM

Jerry, I do appreciate that you are good enough to leave behind your thoughts on this. We use to interact with one another by using a lot of challenges on PiP, back in its earlier days. Those challenges could be very mind-stimulating.

Steven, thank you, dear, for your comments, as they are always appreciated. Especially when I'm read by another person who likes the style of writing that I enjoy, too. But, I always think I can do better, so if you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to share them.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

5 posted 2011-01-31 02:11 PM

One of your best.

This is an excellent answer to an intriguing challenge. The mysteries of love, life, death and spirit make for all the ingredients of great poetry.

And you've managed a lovely recipe with those ingredients to produce a fine meal of a poem.

Brava.

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

6 posted 2011-01-31 02:14 PM

IWIHWT!

LORI

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

7 posted 2011-01-31 07:27 PM

"Here we are, on this cusp
Of coming, and going,
This give and take of life
Ever more clear in
Death…"

Sissie...

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

8 posted 2011-01-31 08:06 PM

Serenity, Lori, Martie - Sissies...

When I looked back and decided to repost this, it became even more apparent to me why it is I like working with Hospice. If I can bring this voice to that level of comfort and care?

Then, I am being managed correctly. And all of you will understand that.

Thank you!

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