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Open Poetry #5
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Shattered Dreams, Broken Hearts
| Open Poetry #5 |
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Shattered Dreams, Broken Hearts |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA 
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Shattered Dreams, Broken Hearts You entered this world bathed in a sea of amniotic fluid and blood. The delivery room echoed with cries of despair that came from my mouth. Our dreams had come true, and shattered all at the same time; when, rather than being born into life, you were born dead. Instead of being baptized in the light of a stained glass window, as angels watched on; you were baptized in the stark glow of an antiseptic hospital room by an angel in white; who carefully bathed your body then gave you back to me, swaddled in a nest of blankets; but there were no cries to soothe. I placed you next to me; sheltered you against my rounded breasts full of milk to nourish your lifeless body. My hands lightly traced across the milky whiteness of your still warm flesh and gently stroked your thick, black hair. I placed my finger on your palm, longing to feel your tiny hands encircle it and wept when, like you, they didn’t move. Liquid mirrors of tears ran in rivers down my cheeks catching the light and reflecting my grief. I held you, for a brief time; my eyes and hands memorizing each bit of you, till your picture was emblazoned in my mind. Then, with a broken heart, I gave you, my angel, up to God, whose heart was the first to break. (Sorry, I need to add here that this was not written from my own personal experience but rather from the pain I've seen at the loss of my neices baby and professionally at the grief of parents whose dreams are shattered in a heartbeat.) When you truly know the meaning of the word Love, you will also know the meaning of the word Pain ~Javan [This message has been edited by hoot_owl_rn (edited 01-03-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Ruth Kephart - All Rights Reserved | |||
whiskey
since 1999-12-28
Posts 1278Australia |
So very sad, I dont know what to say, God is with you  |
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Seaangel Member
since 1999-07-27
Posts 167Auckland, New Zealand |
Beautiful and heart-breaking, hoot. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Ruth, the is so sad...and so beautiful. Heartbreaking and touching too. Very well done poem. HUGS Michael |
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Tamera Member
since 1999-12-28
Posts 121 |
Beautiful, and so sad. Another good one, how do you do it? Tamera |
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First__Knight Senior Member
since 1999-11-08
Posts 678 |
Ruth your words always take me there in a flash......I seem to live in the poems you write and I can see every move...every flash of thought...every feeling. Your words are easy to read yet hold deep meaning without being difficult. And when I reach the end of your poem it was if I wake from a dream and can remember it all....sometimes to well......I was left feeling sad at this and I cried. Being in love with someone is more than just saying "I love you" |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
I do not share your talent for empathy. I've only been able to write poetry from my own perspective. Prose -- a little easier. But not poetry. marvelous job! |
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
dear hoot, This poem sent chills down my spine and brought tears to my eyes. That you would and could share this most personal tragedy with us, leaves me speechless. I'm not sure that I could, and I admire you greatly for being this brave. Corinne |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
**pause, take deep breath, wipe eyes** This happened to my mother. One of my earliest childhood memories is of her, telling me that had I not been there (I was one at the time), she would have killed herself in a fit of grief. I have no reason to think that she would not have. You have one of the most wonderful and terrible vocations in existence -- I envy you your strength but not your position. Blessings upon you and the angels that you work with -- both the newborn ones and the real ones. God this was heartbreaking.  --Kess< !signature--> You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. [This message has been edited by Skyfyre (edited 01-03-2000).] |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
I can't even imagine grief as deep as this must be. I am sitting here crying at just the thought of it. Your verse caputured all the turbulant emotion that must be felt by parents experiencing such loss. Well done, Ruth. Denise |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Hoot: Again...or maybe my frame of mind...but you paint a picture that I remember here. HUSG Don't ask me where I'm going, just listen when I'm gone and far away you'll hear me singing softly to the dawn. |
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Elizabeth Santos Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269Pennsylvania |
Hoot You are quite a poet, truly amazing, I would say. You will never teach me to write poetry like this. This is so well written, and emotion wrenching, I would have guessed it to be your own personal experience. It's amazing, Hoot Liz |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
The emotion you can stir with your writing is of Olympic proportions....once again, a beautiful piece of writing. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
I just want to say thank you everyone for your all too kind words. I am either blessed or cursed with the ability to feel what others are feeling...when someone greives, I greive, when they cry, I cry, when they hurt, I hurt...not always a good thing, but it helps me to be more empathatic and most certainly helps in bringing these emotions across in my writing. I will tell you what I know I'm blessed with...the most supportive, caring group of friends and fellow poets anyone could ever ask for. Thank you all |
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
I'm crying Ruth....I'm crying |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
I'm sorry Munda  |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
This is very beautiful and heatbreaking,This makes me think of Mum, when my twin sister was still born, I can only imagine the heartbreak and grief that was upon her. You are an amazing poet Ruth, this is so beautifully written. What comes from the heart goes to the heart. Samuel Coleridge |
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samsonheart Member
since 1999-12-20
Posts 72Missouri rez. |
I ditto everything said hoot, very emotional and expressive. Beautiful work of art. Thankful it was not from personal experience. samsonheart |
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amber Member
since 1999-06-15
Posts 240los banos, ca, |
I have to say this is a very beautiful poem. I could almost feel these words and this babies hand as the tears spilled down my face. Beautiful! |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Thank you Dark Angel, samsonheart and amber |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Ruth - I empathise with your ability to empathise! LOL ruefully - it can be a burden I know - but also a gift I think. Well done on this - excellent and heartwrenching too. K...I am not a painter, I am a poet... F. O'Hara |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Once again words fail me dear friend. Hugs to you. Now and forever, my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© ------------------------------------------------------- "Either kill me or take me as I am, because I'll be damned if I ever change..." Count Donatien Alphonse Francois de Sade (Marquis de Sade) |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Severn and Dream Evil....thank you both for your kind words |
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Echo Rhayne Senior Member
since 1999-09-17
Posts 1495Canyon Country, CA |
Why is it I always have to have a box of tissues when i get on the computer, oh yeah, cause of poems like this!! Very emotional, amost felt like it was me you wrote it so well. I think you captured the feelings of how likely your neice probably felt. You have such a pwerful way with your words, most excellent job, now excuse me while I go have a good cry! ~*~ ^i^ ~*~ Love is such a lonely art, and death is but a taste. Minds are merely instruments that often go to waste! ~*~ ^i^ ~*~ |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
What can I say Ruth? You are an amazing poet and a wonderful friend. I too wanted to go into a profession such as yours. I did not because of the torture of the soul. I wanted to work with abused children and found I did not have the strebgth for it. I would have taken all the children home with me and killed all the parents. It would not have been a good thing. It is amazing that with all you see, you are still so loving and sharing. All my love to you my friend. |
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EnciNo Junior Member
since 2000-01-03
Posts 12 |
Very touching poem. Babies are keepers of the purest peace. So so sad when something like this happens to anyone. |
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J.B.SR Junior Member
since 2000-01-04
Posts 29Seattle area |
I agree with all above.I hope to be able to put some of my life experiences in print as touching as that.Thanx for sharing your talent. Joel |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
J.B.S.R., Encino, Echo and Marilyn, thank you all |
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HelmutB Senior Member
since 2000-01-06
Posts 964Canada |
Ruth, dear you know me well. To feel what others feel makes us rich. I think you are a lucky person to have that ability. My brother, god bless, was only 1 year old when he was called. Sadly, I was born 6 years later and never got to know him. But I still feel and yes I'am crying right now and feel no shame. You have put in words emotion's that have been burried for so long. Thank you. The ability to describe life with words is similar to painting a picture; both can be powerful tools. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Helmut...I am sorry to have brought out memories you may not have wanted to be brought out, but glad you saw the emotions in my words. |
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Rosemary J. Gwaltney Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997northern mountains, Idaho |
Heartbreaking, ah, there are my long-ago babies, Aimee and Patick again. I feel deeply for your neice, and, of course, every parent who ever lived through this. A different kind of pain than losing them later on, which I experienced too, like the darling daughter I recently wrote about, but pain is pain. ...Living is ever like crossing rivers; finding a new life on each shore ... RJG |
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Alwye
Moderator
Member Elite
since 1999-06-16
Posts 3850In the space between moments |
Friends of my parent's lost their first child at birth...this gave me a heartbreaking look into what they must be going through. I too am crying...phenomenal work. *Krista Knutson* ~*Like a lion, without fear of the howling pack, Like a gust of wind, ne'er trapped in a snare, Like a lotus blossom, ne'er sprinkled by water, Let me, like a unicorn, in solitude roam.*~ Hymn Of Buddha |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
 What can I say Ruth except you brought tears to my eyes! How very sad this is. What a touching piece also. <*\\\>< Where there is faith, there is love. Where there is love, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is GOD. Where there is GOD, there is no need. Hallmark |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Rosemary....I am so sorry for all your pain. I can not even imagine the full depth of loss you must have felt. God Bless you. Alwye and whtdove...thank you both very much for your kind words. |
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Lisa Graham-Marshall Junior Member
since 1999-12-31
Posts 23Nottingham. UK |
Im crying.. It is the first time i have read a poem and wept. Thank you for sharing it. Lisa x |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Lisa...I'm sorry my words brought you to tears, but glad I brought the emotions across that clearly in it...thank you. |
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