Mary, when we dream of you
we dream a path in secret woods,
loveliness transformed anew
through sunbright color on dappled wings.
The pain and hurt (thank God!) are gone,
the groaning nights, the tortured days.
When we dream you, we dream you strong,
wise of heart and bright of praise,
And your strength heals now, as before.
You help us see our missing you
not as a weakness: no, much more
a grace of passage we can hold.
Mother and daughter, wife and friend,
we keep you near as we move on,
knowing your heart will never end —
as long as we love, we will be strong.
***************
I reserve the right to tamper with this one, it still feels like a draft to me, but here's where I'm headed right now...
Jeff, Rob, Faye - Please feel free to use the butterfly photo (of your choice) with the poem for Mary - I would be honored. I'm sorry for taking so long to respond; I didn't get a PM and I just checked into this thread now.
Mary, when we dream of you
we dream a path in secret woods,
loveliness transformed anew
through sunbright color on dappled wings.
The pain and hurt (thank God!) are gone,
the groaning nights, the tortured days.
When we dream you, we dream you strong,
wise of heart and bright of praise,
And your strength heals now, as before.
You help us see our missing you
not as a weakness: no, much more
a grace of passage we can hold.
Mother and daughter, wife and friend,
we keep you near as we move on,
knowing your heart will never end —
as long as we love, we will be strong.
***************
I reserve the right to tamper with this one, it still feels like a draft to me, but here's where I'm headed right now...
R.
Oh wow.. I had to wait until I stopped crying so I could see to type. This is amazing Robert. I'm blown away. The first verse alone, touched me so deeply and I know it will her family and friends too.
I won't do anything yet but will wait until you tell me it is finished. I have some more crying to do anyway :)
Jeff, Rob, Faye - Please feel free to use the butterfly photo (of your choice) with the poem for Mary - I would be honored. I'm sorry for taking so long to respond; I didn't get a PM and I just checked into this thread now.
Rob, the poem is lovely!
My PM must not have gone through Tina. I sent it on Tuesday but thanks for the pic to use I have your poem done for the calendar. Jeff
Age of wife please? And of son? And of father/husband for that matter :-) I doubt I can have anything tonight (anniversary night) but I can let it percolate and try for later?
R.
Oh yeah, we have a nice butterfly photo earlier in this thread, maybe you can get permission to use that and mate it with whatever jeff or I come up with?
Robert whenever you could do it would be great. Mary was 58, Stuart is 57 and Gabriel is almost 16.
A few other things about Mary. She always accepted everyone for who they were right where they were with no judgements. She loved the children she taught and was always patient and kind with them. She was generous and liked to help others but did it quietly with no show or expectation of thanks.
She was VERY brave during her illness. She fought like hell to live as long as she could but once she knew she lost the fight she accepted it with grace and did not complain even when she was in tremendous pain.
Her death was a loss to the whole community.
I'll have to go back and see who posted the butterfly. Maybe they would let us use it with the poem :)
Thanks again
Faye
Faye,
I also have quite a few butterfly pics in my portfolio and you, Jeff and/or Robt. are more than welcome to use any one of them for this request. My sympathies to you and your friends.
Mary, when we dream of you
we dream a path in secret woods,
loveliness transformed anew
through sunbright color on dappled wings.
The pain and hurt (thank God!) are gone,
the groaning nights, the tortured days.
When we dream you, we dream you strong,
wise of heart and bright of praise,
And your strength heals now, as before.
You help us see our missing you
not as a weakness: no, much more
a grace of passage we can hold.
Mother and daughter, wife and friend,
we keep you near as we move on,
knowing your heart will never end —
as long as we love, we will be strong.
***************
I reserve the right to tamper with this one, it still feels like a draft to me, but here's where I'm headed right now...
R.
Oh wow.. I had to wait until I stopped crying so I could see to type. This is amazing Robert. I'm blown away. The first verse alone, touched me so deeply and I know it will her family and friends too.
I won't do anything yet but will wait until you tell me it is finished. I have some more crying to do anyway :)
I am forever grateful
Faye
Thanks for the kind words, Faye. I'm glad this works for you. Here's a modified version that will do, I think:
Farewell, But Not Goodbye
Mary, when we dream of you
you are a path in secret woods,
loveliness transformed anew:
sunbright dapple of jewelled wings.
The pain and hurt (thank God!) are gone,
the groaning nights, the tortured days —
when we dream you, we dream you strong,
wise of heart and bright of praise,
And your strength heals now, as before,
and helps us see our missing you
not as a weakness, no: much more
a grace of passage we can hold.
Mother and daughter, wife and friend,
we keep you near as we move on,
knowing your heart will never end —
as long as we love, we will be strong.
Mary, when we dream of you
we dream a path in secret woods,
loveliness transformed anew
through sunbright color on dappled wings.
The pain and hurt (thank God!) are gone,
the groaning nights, the tortured days.
When we dream you, we dream you strong,
wise of heart and bright of praise,
And your strength heals now, as before.
You help us see our missing you
not as a weakness: no, much more
a grace of passage we can hold.
Mother and daughter, wife and friend,
we keep you near as we move on,
knowing your heart will never end —
as long as we love, we will be strong.
***************
I reserve the right to tamper with this one, it still feels like a draft to me, but here's where I'm headed right now...
R.
Oh wow.. I had to wait until I stopped crying so I could see to type. This is amazing Robert. I'm blown away. The first verse alone, touched me so deeply and I know it will her family and friends too.
I won't do anything yet but will wait until you tell me it is finished. I have some more crying to do anyway :)
I am forever grateful
Faye
Thanks for the kind words, Faye. I'm glad this works for you. Here's a modified version that will do, I think:
Farewell, But Not Goodbye
Mary, when we dream of you
you are a path in secret woods,
loveliness transformed anew:
sunbright dapple of jewelled wings.
The pain and hurt (thank God!) are gone,
the groaning nights, the tortured days —
when we dream you, we dream you strong,
wise of heart and bright of praise,
And your strength heals now, as before,
and helps us see our missing you
not as a weakness, no: much more
a grace of passage we can hold.
Mother and daughter, wife and friend,
we keep you near as we move on,
knowing your heart will never end —
as long as we love, we will be strong.
Robt.
Absolutely perfect, thanks so much Robert. I will let you know what I do with it and how it is received. I know I won't be the only one it brings to tears.
Jeff, Rob, Faye - Please feel free to use the butterfly photo (of your choice) with the poem for Mary - I would be honored. I'm sorry for taking so long to respond; I didn't get a PM and I just checked into this thread now.
Rob, the poem is lovely!
Tina, thanks so much for allowing us to use your photo.:) It is perfect with the poem. If its ok I will put it on a card with the poem and give it to Mary's husband and son.
Age of wife please? And of son? And of father/husband for that matter :-) I doubt I can have anything tonight (anniversary night) but I can let it percolate and try for later?
R.
Oh yeah, we have a nice butterfly photo earlier in this thread, maybe you can get permission to use that and mate it with whatever jeff or I come up with?
Robert whenever you could do it would be great. Mary was 58, Stuart is 57 and Gabriel is almost 16.
A few other things about Mary. She always accepted everyone for who they were right where they were with no judgements. She loved the children she taught and was always patient and kind with them. She was generous and liked to help others but did it quietly with no show or expectation of thanks.
She was VERY brave during her illness. She fought like hell to live as long as she could but once she knew she lost the fight she accepted it with grace and did not complain even when she was in tremendous pain.
Her death was a loss to the whole community.
I'll have to go back and see who posted the butterfly. Maybe they would let us use it with the poem :)
Thanks again
Faye
Faye,
I also have quite a few butterfly pics in my portfolio and you, Jeff and/or Robt. are more than welcome to use any one of them for this request. My sympathies to you and your friends.
Kate
Hi Kate,
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your offer. I am always amazed at the generosity of folks on this site. I just looked through your portfolio and you have some beautiful work! Such pretty butterflies. I can never get one to hold still long enough to get a photo.
Reading this entire post has been such an inspiration. The talent and generous nature of people on this site really shines through in this thread. With all the horrible things that happen every day in this world, this is a nice reminder of the good people that are still around who do not get enough credit.
I really love all the poems and want to find a pic I think would be worthy of the beautiful words.
I couldn't get it out of my mind today so I wrote it down.No disrespect to Robert's. Jeff
My Dear Mary
My dear Mary,
It is midnight now.
I lie awake at the first stroke
of the day we exchanged a vow.
Until death we do part
A vow I still proclaim.
You forever will live in my heart
and I know you felt the same.
This day will be harder than most
and from time to time, I'll stop and weep.
The battle lost but not the war,
for now you rest and sleep.
My prayers will rise as butterflies
floating on a hopeful wind.
My heart yearns as a fire burns
to feel your touch again.
Peace has come and your pain has gone,
yet I still hold mine nigh.
Friends and family, husband and son
will cherish you as the butterfly.
Jeff, it is absolutely wonderful! I'm never going to be able to stop crying today. Since Kate gave us permission, I have borrowed one of her beautiful butterflies to go with this poem.
There is nothing wrong with two cards with two touching poems and two beautiful butterfly photos. This one is perfect for Stuart, and Robert's is perfect for all family and friends who love Mary.
Robert, Jeff, Tina and Kate.. you are all great. THANKS!!
