My friend Nancy died last night after a long fight with cancer. This is for you, Nance.
A blue jay came to sit on my window sill
as my friend was dying.
I thought
Do birds take our spirits to heaven?
And as I ponder this
I see
cardinals everywhere —
five of them dashing, splashing, in and out of the birdbath and the cherry tree.
The birds are full of life and chatter
though the cherries are long past.
Even leaves are gone,
fallen to the cold earth.
A gray rain falls — the first day of winter —
the whole world is crying silently dying,
I shake my fist at God.
Why now?
Why her?
I think of bright spirits and laughter and sunlight and time.
For my friend
Time gone.
and when it comes upon us all, there is never enough time.
This earth
these friends
that love
is all we had
and the future becomes the present unknown and unknowable
to us who are left with tears.
Lord, be merciful to my friend
who is journeying on a cardinal’s wing
a flash of red through a gray sky.
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. — Matthew 10: 29-31
the circle of life 
This was just unbelievably beautiful. We lost our dear brother-in-law this past year, my husbands best friend, cherished uncle to my children. His death was sudden. We never got to say goodbye. Your poem says exactly what’s been on my mind. Thank you. I’m so sorry for your own loss.
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Thank you so much. I wasn’t thinking about this little poem blessing anyone else. I was just writing it for myself and for her family/friends.
But death and grief are universal…
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I did not realize you wrote it. Wow. Beautiful. I’ll surely return to it.
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My condolences for the loss of your friend to cancer. I appreciate the prayer support and will be praying for you and your friend’s family. Merry CHRISTmas.
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Yes, you know how horrible cancer is, as well…
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So sorry to hear of your loss. Your friend will be in my prayers. Beautiful tribute post!
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Thank you. A hard time of year for loss…
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Carol – you are gifted in so many ways. I’m so grateful you share them. So sorry for your loss.
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I don’t know if you remember but a bird came and sat on the windowsill of dad’s room on the day he died. There are so many mysteries — perhaps as we contemplate the eternal, we are just more aware of them? Thank you for your nice words — blogs are good places for wannabe writers. :-) Joyful Christmas to all of you. (What are you doing up in the middle of the night???)
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We’re sorry. Cancer sucks.
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Yes, it does. You know that as well. It’s the modern Bubonic plague…
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I’m so sorry for your loss. This poem is a beautiful reflection on death and on life. ((Hugs))
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Thank you, Erica! Hope you all had a lovely joyous Christmas in your new house!
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I too like to write poetry when thought thrashing. “who is journeying on a cardinal’s wing
a flash of red through a gray sky.” is a loverly way to phrase it. My dad died in the very early morning on my birthday 3 years ago and there was a small herd of deer gathered in the front yard when he passed. I think at such times the animal world is very close to ours.
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That’s an interesting way to think about it. I only know there are mysteries that we, the living, sometimes glimpse and can only wonder about.
Thanks for the good comment — I don’t write much poetry, so it was brave of me to put it out there…
Thanks for visiting.
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I also meant to tell you that I love the phrase “thought thrashing” !!! Very descriptive
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What a beautiful tribute to your lovely friend. She has been released from her pain and the bonds of earth. Take good care of yourself as you heal from this great loss.
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Yes, she Has been released. And there was lots of pain, and she wasn’t going to heal. So you are right — thank you for those words.
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In Surinam we believe that sparrows bring souls to the other side. I do not know if that is true but to me birdies are a reminder that life, as long as we have it, is beautiful, delicate and though confusing – to be cherished.
Sorry for your loss. Your friends sounds like she was/is an amazing soul.
Big crunchy hug from Holland!
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So glad to hear from you again!!! :-)
Thank you for your kind words.
I was just going over my list of who I follow, thinking I was missing some people. WordPress sometimes just drops people off my list. Anyway, I hope you are well, and I’m going to see if I can rectify why I’m not getting your posts. Best in 2014. Make some mistakes! :-)
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