I Loved You Well

Today's poem is inspired by farewells

The bittersweet farewell to August

The bittersweet (Niagara Falls) tears of my grandchildren as they bid

Nova Scotia Mimi and cousin farewell

and could not, would not be comforted

(until I reminded them aunty Mel is coming home for the weekend

and there will be birthday cake!!!

 and that helped a little if not totally.)

I was reminded of how precious time is

as I chatted with my parents last night and was so touched 

as mom expressed how she sometimes longs so dearly

to talk to her mother again, who passed away 

around this time of year over 40 years ago!

and by my dad as he shared how deeply he misses his 

oldest brother who passed away in January of this year at age 85,

 But in their grief remains the calm joy as they look forward to seeing them again!

And therein is the comfort of farewell-what lies beyond it...

always the hope of hello again 💖 

Today, whether we have birthday celebrations or not,

is full of reasons to celebrate loving well!

(I am seeing 3 'birthday girls' today

My friend's mother turns 75

My little neighbour turns 3

and my sister (Carolyn) turns 54 💝

Yes, there will be cake tomorrow although it looked doubtful for a bit

after the first Lemon Poppy seed  Bundt cake broke beyond repair

when I pried it from the pan because I forgot to take it out while it was warm.

 The broken cake was soon 'rescued' by my daughter leaving for a camping weekend! 😅

Here's wishing to one and all, a weekend of loving well while we may!

Farewell August...

 

I loved you well, without regret; to wrangle with relinquishment

Is like bearing a beggar's debt no want or wish can circumvent

The way of days no thought can thwart; no force can faze Time's tolling bell

Each season like a love to court; each dawn a dance to dusk's farewell  

I knew it when we met, my dear; no longer blinded by hello

Without reserve, I held you near, suave harbinger of letting go 

And how we danced, while memories fell from ballads of such-and-such  

From bitter-sweetest harmonies of brutal strength and tender touch

Because I knew full well, my love, that time does not cater to 'stop!'

That days are never long enough for love to drain every last drop 

Thus, I avowed, with heart so true, before the hour of farewell

To cherish every part of you, so I could say 'I loved you well' 

And so I marveled at the rose and suffered the prick of its thorns

While tripping t'ward the curtain-close of summer's dew-bedazzled morns

I laughed, I wept, I hoisted sails; some that stood strong and some that fell 

Determined, that if all else fails I did my best to love you well 

My dear, today is all we have to weave what soon we leave behind 

Let's hope the echoes we engrave are beautiful, gentle and kind

For life is a fleet hug-and-kiss; dawn grants no twilight guarantee

Thus the best we can make is this-an 'I loved you well' legacy 

Janet Martin 

Galatians 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, 

let us do good unto all men, 

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.