This poem was inspired by some heart shattering news I got yesterday afternoon, as well as the photo prompt from Dverse Poetry Pub’s Poetics feature – Awareness of the Experience. I have taken this shot – which, the artist says, is based in Barbados (where I’ve lived all my life) – and wrote a poem around it. So first, the photo print, and then the poem. Enjoy….
Goodbye…
Wailing incantation’s ebb and flow
releases the loss
Pouring pain from earthen vessel
Scattered ashes gently borne away
by Yemaya’s breast
Gently rest emblems of remembrance
upon throbbing heart
Commemorating life
Observing passing
Acknowledging emptiness
Watching hope drift on the surface of time
And fade into the distance…
Passion's Pleasure 
Deep sorrow, the helplessness of having no control over the loss, expressed in eloquent beauty.
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Posted by Dorianna (paintswithwords) | March 4, 2012, 5:28 AMThanks Dorianna … I’m still reeling … you definitely articulate what I’m trying to convey with this piece.
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 5:45 AMI can relate to your words, sorrow very beautifully expressed~
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Posted by lscotthoughts | March 4, 2012, 7:16 AMvery deep emotions in this..def. the feeling that some things connect here…that you know the place..literally.. and the personal pain weaving into the pic…Pouring pain from earthen vessel… beautifully expressed..
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Posted by claudia | March 4, 2012, 8:21 AMThanks Claudia…. I’m trying to move on…. it’s hard… but poetry helps me process.
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 11:31 AMSuch sadness and such truth in those final lines, but they bring the poem alive.
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Posted by David King | March 4, 2012, 9:33 AMThanks so much, David….. glad you liked it…
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 11:29 AMi am sorry, your feelings def flow through your words…watching hope drift on desires surface is a great line….nice write man
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Posted by brian miller | March 4, 2012, 11:54 AMThanks Brian … needed to unload in the worst way … that prompt was definitely what I needed…
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 12:25 PMwriting is often the best way to unload…and felt again in the rereading…
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Posted by brian miller | August 11, 2012, 9:02 PM🙂 Thanks and yup … writing is my balm and salve…
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Posted by bajanpoet | August 13, 2012, 5:08 PMThis is beautiful and very moving….I hope and pray that you are able to move and remember the best of times ~
(aka Heaven)
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Posted by Grace | March 4, 2012, 12:44 PMSorrows and memory washed by the sea into new, unforeseen tomorrows. You have gently reminded me of how death is perhaps not just an end but perhaps a beginning. The living must go on, but so too those we love who have passed on to unknown horizons.
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Posted by Chazinator | March 4, 2012, 4:13 PMYes Chaz ..you are right …
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 5:25 PMemotional piece – keep writing about it, if you’re like me it may be your saving grace for such painful times. those last two lines are very moving. love and light your way…
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Posted by Sheila | March 4, 2012, 5:12 PMit was soooo cathartic … I needed to get it out. Release her from my mind… and now I’m ok… 🙂
Yeah, I love the two last lines as well 😀
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 5:26 PMAcknowledging emptiness hit home for me…exactly how I felt when my best friend passed…my mother. Nice job.
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Posted by wurdz | March 4, 2012, 7:28 PMsorry to hear of your loss… I’m so glad the poem resonated with you. Loss is loss, no matter if it is a physical death or the death of a relationship.
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 4, 2012, 8:43 PMThe grief of losing someone dearly loved…. how powerful this piece is! Breaks my heart and makes me long for those who have gone…
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Posted by Janice | March 7, 2012, 11:57 PMThanks Janice…. yes, whether in death or the end of a relationship, death is always painful. Thanks for commenting…
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 8, 2012, 12:22 PMBeautiful my friend. Thank you for reflecting on my piece. Lovely emotional expression of saying goodbye.
Walter
Going to subscribe to your blog…
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Posted by walterwsmith3rd | March 8, 2012, 3:26 AMAnd to you, sir… thanks for the painting – and for visiting and appreciating my homeland 🙂 Hope you visit Barbados again soon 😀
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 8, 2012, 12:23 PMSo hard to say goodbye to something you love…it’s closing a door to part of your life that must be released. I feel your pain…
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Posted by 1emeraldcity | March 8, 2012, 4:32 AMFor real….. this is exactly what this poem was. Closing a door so that I could move on. Well caught….
And thanks for the support.
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 8, 2012, 12:23 PMYour poetry is excellent!
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Posted by lmwills1 | March 8, 2012, 6:06 PM*shy smile* Thanks…..
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 8, 2012, 6:07 PMGrief is a harsh, hard, difficult emotion. You describe it all too well…
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Posted by Lindy Lee | March 8, 2012, 9:20 PMAbsolutely beautiful, heartbreakingly so. And I am so sorry for this loss. A beautiful tribute to this personal loss.
Lady Nyo
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Posted by ladynyo | March 28, 2012, 8:09 AMThanks Lady … it was a way to process my grief … a couple of weeks later, I can say I’m healing 🙂
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Posted by bajanpoet | March 28, 2012, 11:27 AMno comment beyond *gentle hug*
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Posted by eurydiceleading | April 11, 2012, 6:56 PM*burrowing into your love*
Thank you …
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Posted by bajanpoet | April 11, 2012, 6:57 PMyou are very welcome!
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Posted by eurydiceleading | April 11, 2012, 8:06 PMyemaya- she gave birth to all the worlds water?? some very sad and powerful words here…and very sorry to hear about your grief…i hope you find healing through family/friends and of course- writing…..thank you for sharing
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Posted by poemsofhateandhope | August 11, 2012, 9:09 PMThanks so much man! I wrote it to process my pain … it was a metaphorical piece about a failure of a potential relationship… so I’m glad that it evokes such emotions 🙂 It is also an old piece, so the pain is long past 🙂
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Posted by bajanpoet | August 13, 2012, 5:07 PMI am sorry for whatever loss you’ve experienced. You’ve done a beautiful job of letting your words spill some of that grief out. The ‘throbbing heart’ image is definitely a strong standout for me. May you experience a bit of comfort and relief from the sadness soon.
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Posted by Lori McClure (@lorimcspeaks) | August 11, 2012, 11:36 PMThanks … this is an old piece, about the death of a potential relationship… and since then I’ve moved on 🙂 So yeah I got comfort in writing this and was able to move past my pain. Thanks so much for your kind words … I’m glad that the imagery stuck out for you!
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Posted by bajanpoet | August 13, 2012, 5:06 PMyour poem is very powerful and evocative- i had to find out about yemaya – what a beautiful image. I too am sorry you are grieving
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Posted by lazywednesdays | August 12, 2012, 6:32 AMThanks lazywednesday 🙂 In foact, it’s the death of a relationship, not a physical death, and the poem was my way to process my pain. The one who I wrote this poem about and I are good friends now, and I’ve moved on to another relationship 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind words!
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Posted by bajanpoet | August 13, 2012, 5:04 PMIt’s always hard to say goodbye. Well written!
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Posted by Daydreamer | August 13, 2012, 1:46 PMThanks so much Daydreamer!
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Posted by bajanpoet | August 13, 2012, 5:02 PM