It’s been several weeks since yesterday,
tho’ now the time has come,
to offer you this one.
a small token
to share the grief
of life, its hell
that we all know,
all too damn well.
And here’s to grief
that shapes us,
makes us,
that we are,
in a world that leaves us
too many,
O, far too many,
empty spaces.
Empty Spaces
In life as in death . . .
quick as the next breath
the Time will come–
for you, or a loved one–
a time to let go
to say goodbye
. . . then, thou heart will wither,
from whither love goes.
And little by little,
slowly pain grows
as the lines on your face
in your eyes it shows,
from the love you’ve known,
to the love you’ve shown.
Yesterday, was such a day
I buried yet another,
another small animal friend.
She meant a great deal to me,
as all my friends do.
But more than they,
I was her world, entire.
Her beginning,
her ending,
and all that transpire.
She would have gave her life for me,
if need be–
I know.
Yet it was all I could do,
to shower her
with mourning fresh dew.
Softly–slowly–softly
I lay her
in ground fresh turned.
Another loss learned.
Again, left to say goodbye.
Goodbye.
And I . . .
I shoveled earth into my father’s grave,
on a day, ten years now gone away,
and dug more small holes,
than I care to know.
And with each I fill,
one open in my heart.
And what to fill these empty spaces!
O how I tire of digging.
O how I weary of living.
Though soon I’ll be dead,
when life I’ll have read.
But not yet,
no . . . not yet.
Tho’ I near the end
my shovel depend
on empty spaces
having yet no end.
Dear Peter:
I/we are so very sorry for the loss of one so close to your heart.
We do feel and understand your grief and pain.
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Thank you, Donna.
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We have been where you are. After we lost our sweet Sabrina to Cancer, we took a trip to Oklahoma to bring our beloved Breanna to a new home. She is a gift we are grateful for everyday. Eventually the pain does subside.
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I know. And I know it’s well worth the price we pay for their companionship, and like I’ve said, every damn thing comes at a price. Everything. Thank you, Donna.
Peace.
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Sending it to your heart from ours~
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Thank you kindly, Donna, and back to you all.
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Peter ~
As I am still in a state of grief from the last hole dug, I related to your tribute more than I can possibly express in a comment box. The longer we live, the more empty spots/spaces remain on the earth and in our hearts. As devastating as it is to say goodbye, I would not trade one moment of the earthly connection with those now passed, (those whom I believe were meant to be in our lives…and we part of their’s). Every single ONE matters.
Thank you for helping those of us who find it difficult to put our emotion into words, to process the agonizing sense of loss that we feel, by sharing how you feel in words that the human soul can relate to. Thank you for your kindness to the tiniest and most vulnerable of living beings who have trusted and bonded with you. Thank you for the beings you will provide love and care to in the future.
Peace, Love and LIGHT
~ Gerean
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Wow, this spoke to me. As I read along, my heart flew in different directions, caressing my pain. Love is always about goodbye sometimes, and in those times, letting go is hard
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Thank you, Ruth. That’s putting things in proper perspective. Goodbyes are a side of love, aren’t they. Well said. There is a price we must pay for everything, and love is no exception, eh.
Peace
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Thank you, Gerean.
Nor would I. Not a single moment would I trade of companionship to never having to say goodbye.
Peace.
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I too lost an animal I loved completely quite recently, one who would do all she could for me and I for her in turn; a perfect being who gave me nothing but affection and delight. I cannot say the same for any human animal, and as one, I learned from her, a dog. It hurts I know Peter, the tender memories.
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Thank you, Hariod. My condolences to your loss. Truly, the sincerity of animals is unsurpassed by us mere mortals.
Peace, strength, courage.
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“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are sealed with scars.” ~ Kahlil Gibran
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Thank you for the quote, Gerean, I’ll try to live up to it, though I’ve a ways to go yet.
Peace.
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WE all have a ways to go ~ It is a journey. Glad to have stepped upon the same path as you for this part of the trip.
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Ditto.
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Oh Peter, my heart goes out to you. We gain so very much from lov
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Sorry word press posted that without my say so.
We gain so much from loving those little beings, and the bigger ones too, but it is always tempered with such terrible loss when they leave us. Your words brought forth tears here, I am thinking of you. hugs him x
sonmi upon the Cloud
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Hi Somni. you said it well. Love, is always tempered by the prospect of loss. And yet somehow, while not worth the price, well worth the price.
If that makes any sense. 🙂
Thanks for the hug.
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A beautiful and loving tribute to a dear friend, Peter. Thank you for sharing the tenderness and depth of your love and sorrow, and the longing of your spirit for a world where all can live the fullness of their days surrounded by peace and kindness.
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Thank you, Carol. Your warm and sincere words do me well.
Chi miigwetch, my friend.
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Your pain for the empty spaces was beautifully expressed, Peter. My condolences to you for your loss, I trust that the gains made it all worth it.
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Thank you, Jeff. And the short answer is, yes. I suppose I would do it all over again.
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Such a moving tribute, Peter.
It is always sad to lose an animal friend. This leaves an empty space that can never be refilled. Their time with us always feels too short.
Sending you love,
Emy ❤
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Thank you, Emy.
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Peter: I’m so sorry. I wish there were words, or even actions, that could give comfort or fill in the holes left in your heart. It’s exhausting, digging again and again. I think that’s why some of us die, to escape the emptiness that becomes a way of life with the loss of more and more of the ones we love so very much. I will think of you often and tuck you and the thoughts of your lovely friend in my heart. I’m so sorry. Maybe your friend will meet Silver, who was buried a few weeks ago, and they can play and be happy, as we desperately miss their warmth, beauty and love. Peace to you now and always.
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Thank you, Gigi, for the happy thoughts of Tinky meeting Silver, yes indeed.
Peace.
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Sending warm and sweet thoughts your way my friend. Blessed be and may the Goddess hold you gently in her loving hands.
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Thank you, Gigi, for your warm and thoughtful considerations. And may the Goddess smile upon you.
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Thanks so much for sharing this, it’s amazing, it hit me hard as I am coping with some really hard,emotional things right now and this was uncanny in it’s timing for me, but it was good to indulge those feelings and share them. I feel for you, I so do, I have lost so many loved ones and it’s so,so hard,so painful,it gets harder, it’s only the ones left that need my help that keep me going, keep me holding on.But I’ll carry your words with me today and they will help,thanks.
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I hope for you all the strength and courage you need to make it through your time. I fully understand. I too carry on for those who love and depend on me, otherwise there is no point.
I wish you all the well. Peace.
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That was so kind, thank you. I read that the day you wrote it and I have carried it with me through these awful weeks and it has meant a lot to me and helped me hold on. Thank you.
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Peter,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending warm thoughts your way.
I wrote a poem for another blogger friend about loosing our furry friends. You may find some comfort there too. It is on my personal blog: http://wordifull.com/2013/07/22/your-loss/
Melanie
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Thank you, Melanie. Yours is truly a lovely poem, heartfelt.
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