The rose once technicolor bright
now sepia-toned, left, an oversight
to blend into the background.
And she, nearly devoid of color
doesn’t see it, everything now duller,
except when in her dreams.
Her frail body, a slight bump beneath
the blankets, but her mind unleashed
flits between sleep and waking–
she sees a vision of their summer home
the cottage colored sand and sea foam
and brightened by its rose garden,
and always scented by the sea.
But here and now, she
hears the ocean, waves lapping,
slapping the rhythm of the tide,
calling her—to slide
into her memories–
or no, a harbinger it seems
of what is next, not dreams.
Her sun is setting,
and now the room glows
a well-loved voice she knew and knows
says, “Come, Love. I’ve been waiting.
Sarah at dVerse has been pondering the word “harbinger,” and asks us to do the same in a poem. Lately my poems want to be stories, and my stories want to be poems. Perhaps this is a harbinger of something yet unknown (to me). 🙂
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
This is bittersweet… and in the end it would be great to be met on the other side.
Thank you, Björn. Yes, bittersweet. I’m not a religious person, and I pretty much think we just die and that’s it, but it would be nice.
The rhyme scheme is lovely, and you’ve worked it very subtly. I like the gentle slide from the past to the present, and on to -what? – eternity, I guess. It literally brought tears to my eyes.
Oh my–thank you, Sarah. That is a lovely compliment to have brought tears to your eyes.
not an easy word to float, but you did it … gracefully. – tsk
Thank you very much!
Such delicacy in this poem, Merril, slipping into whatever there is beyond the horizon, with the setting sun, her dreams and her memories. Lovely!
Thank you very much, Jane.
It would be a nice way to go, wouldn’t it?
It would, and to meet the loved one on the other side.
Yes, that, too. It would be.
🙂
Wow… this is beautiful story in a poem. Would that we could all go so softly into the light of the other side…
Thank you so much, Dale.
Yeah–definitely wishful thinking on my part.
I think we would all like to go softly…
Yes.
“she sees a vision of their summer home
the cottage colored sand and sea foam
and brightened by its rose garden,”
Loved this, Merril! My father and I were just taking yesterday what a blessing it is when on goes so peacefully.
Thank you so much, Jill!
Yes, I guess what we all hope for.
“waves lapping,
slapping the rhythm of the tide,” LOVE this description.
Wish you could be sitting beside me …you would have heard me give out a big sigh at the end. This is beautiful….there’s a peacefulness to it….and hope for a rejoining in the end…of a loved one waiting on the other side.
What a beautiful comment! Thank you so much, Lillian. I’m so pleased you had that reaction.
Sometimes you have mentioned waves lapping which is quite beautiful in creating a rhythm here. This could be like a gentle pulse reminiscent of your humming moon’s melody. The layers of the poignant memories added depth to your rhythm. Maybe becoming an “orchestra of life” poem, not just one person’s passing. . .
Thank you, Robin.
I suppose there are universal themes and rhythms here. Thanks!
Sad, but lovely tale, Merril.
Thank you, Ken.
Oh this is so lovely in all its bittersweet vibes. I like the ending and the idea of being met by someone we love, at the end of it all 🙂
Thank you very much! Yes, bittersweet.
I hope the ending is like that, too.
as she fades from this world and revives into the next, in a gentle transition. This one is a keeper.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
I really enjoyed your poem, there is a deep humanity in it.
Thank you so much, that’s lovely!
This has a wonderful strange beauty Merril.
Oh that there is such graceful ease to the other side…
Anna :o]
Thank you so much, Anna.
I love “wonderful strange beauty”–that made me smile.
Yes, would that it be true!
This gave me chills, Merrill – may the end of our life be so sweet, filled with memories of beloved moments, fading into an invitation to cross over.
Thank you so much!
Yes, I hope for that, too, for all of us.
So welcome
🙂
What a beautiful poem of passing! Yes, you can tell when the end is near for a loved one! A beautiful ending!
Thank you so much, Dwight!
(I was at my dad’s deathbed–he did not go gently. )
That is so sad when it goes that way. Sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Dwight (twenty years ago). 🙂
You will never know how much getting older causes us to wait to hear the voices of our loved ones calling us to join them. This really struck a cord with me. Thank you
Thank you, Violet. I’m pleased this struck a chord. I’m getting older, and my mom is 96, so I do have some idea.
Nice weaving of colors, sounds, states of consciousness … an ending to hope for (unless I go first).
Thank you so much!
Yes, something we all hope for, I imagine.
Perhaps this is a harbinger of fiction waiting to be born – this makes for terribly lyrical narrative, making me want more.
Thank you very much, Jilly!
A poignant and beautiful harbinger, Merril. I love how you introduce the idea of time passing with the rose in the opening lines, the contrast of life and dreams, and then the subtle shift into a dream of the past. I also like how the scent of the sea becomes the sound of the last tide. I hope my end comes like that.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful reading, Kim.
I think we all wish for an ending like that.
Lovely imagery. Would that we’d all be so lucky to just drift away to the sound of waves and a well-loved voice. At least, go to sleep and not wake up.
I just finished listening to Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, and the final scene was somewhat like your poem. No ocean waves but a garden in faded colors because the narrator’s eyesight was damaged, and then the well-loved voices calling to her. I don’t recommend the novel. I just find it interesting how your poem reminds me of that one scene. So your poems are stories too 🙂
Thank you, Marie. It would be lovely. I haven’t read that book, but I love that my poem reminded you of that scene. 🙂
Very nice. I like the “flits between sleep and waking” and the voice of the loved one waiting for her at the end.
Thank you very much, Frank!
Delicate and calming words. I see this as one nearing the ending of life. Well done, Merril.
Thank you, Frank! I’m glad you liked it.
And what a beautiful and gentle poetic story. How lucky to have such an exit from living, an awakening of a different sort. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe. Yes, you’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way.
Very engaging write Merril, a rose of another color…
Thank you, Rob. 🙂
i was carried away with the poetic prose Merril, a faded rose, but vivid dreams and the last line of her love calling her home, a happy ending
Thank you so much, Gina. Given the possibilities, a happy ending indeed. 🙂
It says something about your skill that I didn’t even notice your rhyme scheme until nearly the end! I was just gliding along with the words and mood. Love the line “scented by the sea.”
Thank you so much, Jennifer! I appreciate that you let me know.