Saturday, January 17, 2009

One Week

One week ago today, my father passed away. I haven't blogged about it, and won't today except to say that I am so thankful for all the kind words and thoughts people have shared, that have made this grief bearable.

Yesterday a friend sent a lovely poem that I hadn't seen before, but it's worth sharing here.

“I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says;
"There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as she was when she left my side
and she is just as able to bear her
load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, "There, she is gone!"
There are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout;
"Here she comes!"

And that is dying.”

8 comments:

Dru said...

{{{{{Allie}}}}

Those are beautiful words.

MJFredrick said...

HUGS HUGS HUGS, Allie!

Charity Tahmaseb said...

Allie, I'm so sorry. My dad's birthday is next Friday. He would've been 80 this year had he lived long enough.

He died a few years back and I still miss him terribly.

Sending warm thoughts your way.

Liz said...

Hugs and prayers to you and your family. The poem is lovely and comforting.

Marianne Arkins said...

I'm SO SO sorry... it's been seventeen years since I lost my dad, and I still miss him. So, I really do understand.

(((((HUGS)))))

Sarita Leone said...

I am so very sorry for your loss, Allie. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lovely poem.

Diane Craver said...

Allie,
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know he was a wonderful father because of the fine daughter he raised.

My father died in March 1979 and I still think of him often.

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Angela James said...

I'm very sorry to hear this, Allie. The death of a parent is an incredibly difficult thing. I hope you can find some comfort in your family.