Back Away from the Brink
Poem written after the death of my only child.41 total reviews
Comment from palmart
WOW!! What a writing!! I could not fight the tears that flood my eyes while reading your words. You really are brave for three main reasons (and there are many millions more, for sure):
-the tough situation described
-the wisdom you have afterwards, to sit and write about that situation
-the inner force to continue keeping waking up at mornings and go to bed at nights, despite of "warning! Low battery! " Signs in your soul.
I have suffered my parents` deaths with a lot of inner work. Both of them were alive when my elder brother die. I remember they said for decades; "This is not natural. We must leave first"...
Last, I remember a TV advertising telling:
The death of a husband is called widowhood. The death of a parent is called orphanhood. But the death of a son... the death of a son has no name... (not even a word has been created for such an abyss)..
Thanks for this huge teaching lesson on life and death...
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022
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WOW!! What a writing!! I could not fight the tears that flood my eyes while reading your words. You really are brave for three main reasons (and there are many millions more, for sure):
-the tough situation described
-the wisdom you have afterwards, to sit and write about that situation
-the inner force to continue keeping waking up at mornings and go to bed at nights, despite of "warning! Low battery! " Signs in your soul.
I have suffered my parents` deaths with a lot of inner work. Both of them were alive when my elder brother die. I remember they said for decades; "This is not natural. We must leave first"...
Last, I remember a TV advertising telling:
The death of a husband is called widowhood. The death of a parent is called orphanhood. But the death of a son... the death of a son has no name... (not even a word has been created for such an abyss)..
Thanks for this huge teaching lesson on life and death...
Comment Written 18-Jun-2022
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2022
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Thank you for your words of support and kindness. I am not always strong, but I am always in touch with my inner broken self.
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I understand that you are human and "we suffer highs and lows" because of that. But there are other people in your same situation that decides wrongly and results are opposite. In any case, to be in touch with your inner self is what really counts. And it can be felt (as in my case) thousand-miles away. Transcontinental perception?
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Thank you for your support from a distance. It is an added blessing, and it is appreciated.
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I felt happy writing this review, Dear Sandy! It was something like "pending to do" in my life.. haha
a proverb to close this message:
Nothing does as much good as doing good
A full cargo plane of "Thank You`s"
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Thank you! You blessed my day.
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You too, Dear Sandy!!
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Thanks!
Comment from Regina Elliott
Hello Sandra, I don't think there are adequate words to
express my condolences.
I'm so sorry for the loss of
your beautiful Ginia. My heart
especially hurts when a young life is lost. This is a
heartrending and, at the same
time, a very beauteous poem.
God's blessings to you,
always, and also your good
friend Linda. ~
reply by the author on 06-Jun-2022
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Hello Sandra, I don't think there are adequate words to
express my condolences.
I'm so sorry for the loss of
your beautiful Ginia. My heart
especially hurts when a young life is lost. This is a
heartrending and, at the same
time, a very beauteous poem.
God's blessings to you,
always, and also your good
friend Linda. ~
Comment Written 06-Jun-2022
reply by the author on 06-Jun-2022
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Thank you so much for your comforting words of support and your generous rating. I can hear or read a child died and cry because I can sense the pain the parent(s) may feel. Thank you.
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
A hundred years ago or more, it was commonplace to lose one or even more children in their youth. We grieved, we mourned, but it was the norm. Now we don't expect it and can't cope. You have all my sympathy and understanding for your pain as ten years on we are still trying to come to terms with the loss of my brother. Kate xx
reply by the author on 06-Jun-2022
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A hundred years ago or more, it was commonplace to lose one or even more children in their youth. We grieved, we mourned, but it was the norm. Now we don't expect it and can't cope. You have all my sympathy and understanding for your pain as ten years on we are still trying to come to terms with the loss of my brother. Kate xx
Comment Written 06-Jun-2022
reply by the author on 06-Jun-2022
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Thank you for reading my poem and rating it. I appreciated your words of understanding. I am sorry for your loss of your brother.
Comment from Annmuma
This poem allows the reader to see into you soul -- it is beautiful and it is raw. I respect every word of it and I was especially drawn to those near the ending:
She loved me back where she wanted me to be.
She loved me back to me.
I saw I was worth keeping.
This is the most profound and beautiful description of a true friendship where two people care more about the other's well-being than they do about their own because the other's well-being is part of their own. Two can become one.
I am so pleased you directed me to this work. It is inspiring. thanks.
ann
reply by the author on 26-May-2022
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This poem allows the reader to see into you soul -- it is beautiful and it is raw. I respect every word of it and I was especially drawn to those near the ending:
She loved me back where she wanted me to be.
She loved me back to me.
I saw I was worth keeping.
This is the most profound and beautiful description of a true friendship where two people care more about the other's well-being than they do about their own because the other's well-being is part of their own. Two can become one.
I am so pleased you directed me to this work. It is inspiring. thanks.
ann
Comment Written 26-May-2022
reply by the author on 26-May-2022
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Thank you for being so kind to me today. I need kindness today more than ever. Blessings!
Comment from Dylan 22
I'm so sorry you had to go through this, truly heartbreaking to read. This poem is really incredible, I thought the lines "she loved me back where she wanted me to be/ she love me back to me" were particularly beautiful.
-Dylan
reply by the author on 26-May-2022
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I'm so sorry you had to go through this, truly heartbreaking to read. This poem is really incredible, I thought the lines "she loved me back where she wanted me to be/ she love me back to me" were particularly beautiful.
-Dylan
Comment Written 26-May-2022
reply by the author on 26-May-2022
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Thank you for reading my piece and the great rating. Thanks for your kind words of support. Writing is cathartic for me.
Comment from Beri Bee
I'm very glad you directed me to this incredible piece so I could know this story and grasp some of what tomorrow is for you. It sounds presumptuous to claim any part of understanding. Although I was on the outside looking in, I saw my stepmother's pain when her two children were killed in a car accident (in a car bought as a gift for the 16 y/o two weeks earlier). I have her journals in which she prayed for death to come, and we did fear she wouldn't stay. Sadly, exactly 10 years later she died of cancer at 49, not long after she'd begun to feel joy in living again. Your friend Linda knew, somehow, what was needed and was able to be with you... in the best way. What a harrowing life you have lived. It makes me think of the story of Job, and especially the one who always came back saying, "and I alone survived to tell." Thank you again. I will be thinking of you, Ginia, Linda, and Liz.
reply by the author on 26-May-2022
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I'm very glad you directed me to this incredible piece so I could know this story and grasp some of what tomorrow is for you. It sounds presumptuous to claim any part of understanding. Although I was on the outside looking in, I saw my stepmother's pain when her two children were killed in a car accident (in a car bought as a gift for the 16 y/o two weeks earlier). I have her journals in which she prayed for death to come, and we did fear she wouldn't stay. Sadly, exactly 10 years later she died of cancer at 49, not long after she'd begun to feel joy in living again. Your friend Linda knew, somehow, what was needed and was able to be with you... in the best way. What a harrowing life you have lived. It makes me think of the story of Job, and especially the one who always came back saying, "and I alone survived to tell." Thank you again. I will be thinking of you, Ginia, Linda, and Liz.
Comment Written 25-May-2022
reply by the author on 26-May-2022
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Thank you for reading about Ginia and thank you for your words of encouragement. Linda will check on me today (It's almost 1 AM) She will bring me dinner. Blessings to you. If you return to my site and read Runaway, that poem is about me at 14, but I used third person, pronoun she. The first-person pronoun makes people uncomfortable.
Comment from BermyBye50
Sandra,
Your poem "Back Away from the Brink" is difficult to read. It is a heartbreaking retelling of your loss to which I fully empathize. I've been close to the BRINK it seems numerous times in he past ten years for various reasons. Poetry has been a Godsend for me and has allowed me to consciously back away from the BRINK each time I drew near. I am deeply touched and applaud your faith, strength and extraordinary courage to share your daughter's story. I too have an only child, a son now 20 years old in college. He is African American and could easily become a victim of the insanity needless taking the lives of young Black males in this country. It would be devastating to me personally to learn of my son's sudden passing due to circumstances beyond either of our control.
Sincerely,
Eugene Harvey
reply by the author on 21-May-2022
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Sandra,
Your poem "Back Away from the Brink" is difficult to read. It is a heartbreaking retelling of your loss to which I fully empathize. I've been close to the BRINK it seems numerous times in he past ten years for various reasons. Poetry has been a Godsend for me and has allowed me to consciously back away from the BRINK each time I drew near. I am deeply touched and applaud your faith, strength and extraordinary courage to share your daughter's story. I too have an only child, a son now 20 years old in college. He is African American and could easily become a victim of the insanity needless taking the lives of young Black males in this country. It would be devastating to me personally to learn of my son's sudden passing due to circumstances beyond either of our control.
Sincerely,
Eugene Harvey
Comment Written 21-May-2022
reply by the author on 21-May-2022
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Eugene,
Thank you for reading my poem and for the generous rating. Indeed, we will all have points in our lives that we must back away from the BRINK!
Comment from juliaSjames
This prose poem is remarkably restrained and lucid considering the horrific tragedy you experienced. I am so very sorry for your loss. May your darling child Ginia rest in peace. And may peace find its way into your broken heart.
Your friend was more than a friend during your time of trial. She was an angel in human form.
I hope you will continue to find writing a cathartic exercise. It's difficult to review this piece in the traditional sense of flow and structure because the subject matter is overwhelming. Words of sympathy, too, seem trite and meaningless. This site is a safe place to share your feelings in poetry or prose. Many have experienced heartbreak and suffering.
Stay safe and blessed
Julia
reply by the author on 17-May-2022
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This prose poem is remarkably restrained and lucid considering the horrific tragedy you experienced. I am so very sorry for your loss. May your darling child Ginia rest in peace. And may peace find its way into your broken heart.
Your friend was more than a friend during your time of trial. She was an angel in human form.
I hope you will continue to find writing a cathartic exercise. It's difficult to review this piece in the traditional sense of flow and structure because the subject matter is overwhelming. Words of sympathy, too, seem trite and meaningless. This site is a safe place to share your feelings in poetry or prose. Many have experienced heartbreak and suffering.
Stay safe and blessed
Julia
Comment Written 17-May-2022
reply by the author on 17-May-2022
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Thank you for reading my poem and the rating. I took your other suggestions and implemented them. Don't ever feel because the subject matter is personal you cannot share your opinion on the writing. I wrote this poem as a part of my grief therapy. Lord knows I needed it. Blessings to you too! Thanks!
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You?re welcome
Julia
Comment from Charity Stewart
What a heartbreaking but moving true storyyou have written. Did your daughter die from a suicide or accidentally falling off balcony. I'm so so sorry. I can't even imagine the pain you were feeling and still feeling. It's good you had a friend to get you through those hard times. Thanks for sharing. I can relate not in the same way but I know what true depression feels like everyday I wake up. I been through so much. I hope you are doing so much better now.
reply by the author on 17-May-2022
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What a heartbreaking but moving true storyyou have written. Did your daughter die from a suicide or accidentally falling off balcony. I'm so so sorry. I can't even imagine the pain you were feeling and still feeling. It's good you had a friend to get you through those hard times. Thanks for sharing. I can relate not in the same way but I know what true depression feels like everyday I wake up. I been through so much. I hope you are doing so much better now.
Comment Written 17-May-2022
reply by the author on 17-May-2022
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I too have endured a lot. Thanks for your encouraging words and the rating. My daughter died in Berlin, Germany it was treated as an accidental fall. I had to wait 2 months for her remains to be returned to stateside. She came back in an urn.
Comment from karenina
Sandra...
You have a rare ability... You etch your pain so vividly upon my heart I grieve with you, I grieve for you.
This free verse is riveting, raw, gritty, real!
Every line is a lament and a prayer. Every word is a whisper and a wail!
I am so very sorry for this unimaginable loss...
I am so grateful you have come here to FanStory...
For you wilk touch souls, you will move hearts...
It's an honor to read your work!
Karenina
reply by the author on 17-May-2022
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Sandra...
You have a rare ability... You etch your pain so vividly upon my heart I grieve with you, I grieve for you.
This free verse is riveting, raw, gritty, real!
Every line is a lament and a prayer. Every word is a whisper and a wail!
I am so very sorry for this unimaginable loss...
I am so grateful you have come here to FanStory...
For you wilk touch souls, you will move hearts...
It's an honor to read your work!
Karenina
Comment Written 17-May-2022
reply by the author on 17-May-2022
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You have my deepest gratitude.
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Loved the powerful emotion here...
Keep writing!
