On one of the poetry forums I frequent, it seems like everyone is writing of death and it's eating me alive.
There is one about the funeral of the writer's mother - and the little details that were so overpoweringly important at the time. It mentions, in a way that lends it great impact, that the funeral director told her not to bring shoes. That one line was a like a sledgehammer between the eyes. When I buried Alexis, they told me not to bring a diaper, she wouldn't need one. What mother lays her child down with no diaper on?
I took one anyway, and the funeral director seemed to know that it was important to me, because the day of the viewing, she had it on.
But her shoes... little patent-leather Mary Janes, she was so swollen that they wouldn't fit her feet. She was 12 days old, wearing make-up. She had the most beautiful head of down-soft black hair. In the hospital I'd sit and just run my fingers through her hair and talk to her - in the casket, it was stiff-sticky with hairspray. And I kept thinking, she's 12 days old, why the hell would they put hairspray in her hair!?
The poem mentions how she placed a Rosary in her mothers hands, and I shivered at the memory of putting a gold bracelet on Alexis' wrist at the viewing, how cold and stiff and unbending her little arm was. How horrified I was to feel my child that way, and how important it was that she have this bracelet on. It was engraved with her name, like writing your child's name on the inside of her coat, in case she ever got lost someone would at least know her name. Alexis had her name on her wrist, engraved in gold because the tag of her pink frilly dress would eventually rot away. I had lost her, and wanted someone to know her name if they ever found her.
It has to be done - but why - If someone finds her, will they bring her back to me?
And nearly four years later, I sit here crying still, remembering how insane that thought process sounded even in my own head, even then, and not caring because it was so damned important.
That poem was the best thing I've read in a long time, because I felt it, but the worst thing I've read too, for the same reason.
My father was the biggest dale earnhardt fan ever. Nothing was important to him but Dale and the #3. (other than the grandbabies)When he died 18 months ago, my children and I slipped a tiny dale car into his hand that was cupped "just so" that it seemed it was waiting for it right before they closed the casket. It just seemed right. When the guinea pig died this week, the children slipped favorite toys and treats in with him, they just knew that was what you were supposed to do. If it is ok for the kids, it is ok for the adults. Mourning is for the living.
ReplyDelete"It has to be done - but why - If someone finds her, will they bring her back to me?"
No, they won't. But they will know and remember her and that is what makes it all worthwhile. She would not be forgotten.
magdala~
This breaks my heart E. I wish I could say something more, but words are useless.
ReplyDeleteHugs
words are useless, and unnecessary Ang, I know that you have your own pain and loss (you too Magdala) that makes it something you can sympathize and empathize with. We all go through what we go through, we all make it through the best we know how. Most days anymore are good ones, it's just that some days there's something that sparks it all - brings it back. Today was a little "sparky" if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI cried, and sometimes it's good to do that, I feel better now, and that's a good thing too.
my father has told me many times over the years that sometimes it is good just to go to bed and cry yourself to sleep.
ReplyDeletee / i think you need to share this story with someone else in our life - you know who i mean / it's so beautiful & touching & painful - you know i love you ~jennx
ReplyDelete*smoooooch* ladies. Love you!
ReplyDelete