Life Moved On

It was April-
belly huge,
she was due any day
into a world painted white
and cold hibernation.
Fully grown inside me
she lay wrapped, warm and wanted,
waiting for her first real breath of life.
Cocooned inside hospital walls
the world outside awoke,
exploding color
and soft pastels of spring.

I gazed in wonder at life's birth.

Head held high,
the sun and tears washed warm my face.
A new season was born.
With the baby budding in my arms,
fragile life moved on.

It was November-
the world again turning cold,
we headed south on a ship.
Deep inside me
another new life
three months young,
clung to me and my heart
and then let go.
In a strange place,
in a strange state of mind
and strangely surrounded by paradise palms;
we dug a small hole in perfect, pristine sand,
lay down the small body
and let go.

Head held high,
the sun and tears washed warm my face.
A season of emptiness was born.
With bitter-sweet emotions budding in my heart,
fragile life moved on.

It was October-
The sun warm,
the breeze cool
flowed through open windows into my house.
Although ready for my mother's call,
I wasn't.
My dad was gone,
swept up in the wind,
disappearing quickly into the clouds.
I stumbled, needing to hear his favorite song.
Lost in the volume,
I watched my three year old
dance, twirl and laugh.
Riding free from pain on fresh new wings,
my father breathed with the wind
and wrapped himself around me.

Head held high,
the sun and tears washed warm my face.
A season of loss was born.

Swallowing sorrow
I smiled
as my daughter danced
unknowingly
in the arms of her grandfather.
With a lasting memory budding somewhere deep inside me,
fragile life moved on.

Learn more about this author, Lori O'Connell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Poetry: Life?
We want to hear your view. Write now!