Sunday, September 25, 2011

Magpie #84 Barb's funeral

The funeral was yesterday.
A big church, in a small hamlet,
Filled almost to capacity---
The pastor commented.
A celebration of life
projected on the wall,
Photos
Of moments in a long life
Cut short.

Amen
and Hallelujah!!!
they celebrated the last nine
Years of life.
little or no
mention
Of the fuller life that filled that
out-of-the-way
Church
in the woods.

The rain fell
on the sunny day.
The birds
accompanied
God's faithful daughter home.

And WE
said our farewells........

28 Comments:

Blogger Kathy B. said...

I like the mystery of this, the sense it gives of a much bigger story of this woman's life and of the way of her death, the mix of optimism and sadness.

1:05 PM  
Blogger JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

nicely done up to the end of it..

JJRod'z

1:13 PM  
Blogger Maxwell Mead Williams Robinson Barry said...

sad to just have ended a funeral,

Amen,

lovely magpie.

1:26 PM  
Blogger Tess Kincaid said...

Poignant and beautiful...

2:08 PM  
Blogger christopher said...

Some are afraid of funerals. I am not. I am happy that so many attended, and confused why more of her was not celebrated. However, I know what churches are like, sure enough. You may have written a story, and yet I seem to want to take this one rather literally. I like it that you compel me into a part of the real world.

2:20 PM  
Anonymous The Orange Tree said...

time to move on,

lovely story told with a beautiful goodbye.

3:09 PM  
Blogger Roy Schulze said...

Most funerals, like this one, leave me wanting to say all the things left unsaid.

3:19 PM  
Blogger Stafford Ray said...

I guess this poem expresses a personal loss. It has that feeling, despite the Hallelujah and the Amen.

3:59 PM  
Blogger Chronicles of Illusions said...

it feels so sad - so unfulfilled - beautiful

4:17 PM  
Blogger Fireblossom said...

Ah, but you'll see her again. Believe it.

5:06 PM  
Blogger Lady Em said...

It's like I just picked up a book and started reading a random page, I want to know more!:)

5:18 PM  
Blogger Kay L. Davies said...

"in a long life cut short" — there is something very personal there, either to you, or to me.
Very well done.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

6:38 PM  
Blogger The Blog of Bee said...

A read that tugs at the heart strings. We should say our farewells - it's supposed to bring closure. In no way to forget - simply closure.

7:43 PM  
Blogger Arian Tejano said...

I like the detachment of the speaker towards the event. Sadly, it happens sometimes.

9:29 PM  
Blogger hyperCRYPTICal said...

Tugs at the heart strings indeed.

Farewells are often sad yet at times can be a joyous release (to those who enter different plains).

Anna :o]

4:02 AM  
Blogger Lyn said...

So many layers to this..sadness and hope..truly felt!

8:22 AM  
Blogger Brian Miller said...

funerals are always such a hodgepodge of emotion...i hope her trip home is smooth in accompaniment of the rain...and that it sooths those left behind...

8:45 AM  
Blogger Helen said...

Never an easy task ... saying goodbye. Your Magpie poem is heartfelt and lovely.

12:51 PM  
Blogger Tumblewords: said...

Powerful and poignant - it brings a catch to the breath.

6:49 PM  
Blogger Arnab Majumdar said...

Goodbyes never come easy...

Cheers,
Arnab Majumdar on SribbleFest.com

7:43 PM  
Blogger Cathy Feaster said...

wow, great emotion here, intrigues me to want to know more about the deceased...

9:16 PM  
Blogger Isabel Doyle said...

That was an inviting piece, leaving this reader with many questions. Beautifully written.

3:24 AM  
Blogger Margaret said...

intrigued by " little or no mention of the fuller life that filled that out-of-the-way Church in the woods". The rest is comforting, actually.

1:53 PM  
Blogger Intelliblog said...

Well-crafted Magpie and an excellent take on the prompt.

6:25 PM  
Blogger Churlita said...

Lovely poem without telling us everything.

4:36 PM  
Blogger JBinford-Bell said...

I have been a year since there was no memorial, no funeral, for one I loved. As sad as funerals are (and you capture it so well) sadder yet is there not being one. No ceremony at passing away and a chance to say our farewells.

Very nice poem.

6:18 AM  
Blogger Helena said...

Simply touching. Life and its farewells vary greatly. Long or short, they're never easy.

6:11 PM  
Blogger Boss Lady said...

love !

10:39 PM  

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