My Brother has died

 

Source: mimiwickett
 

Gray still sky over

Roiling silver sea 

Soaking gold to slate

Slabs of sand.

Satin rocks, ancient rocks

Worn and beaten

Smooth by

Merciless waves.

My brother is dying.

 

Her whispers cast

To deaf waters.

Salt to salt,

Whispered over and over.

Three speckled rocks

Chosen by grace.

One rock resting

in a noisy room,

Whispering silently

 

My brother is dying...

One rock for bedside

Where whispers and tears merged.

One rock more--

At last, gazing at my

Blessed brother, eyes closed, 

In steel gray casket.

Tucking a smooth

Ocean stone into icy hand.

 

My brother has died.

Tears to tears,

Sea to earth,

Cold hand to warm,

Words silenced,

Whispers lie heavy
in the heart. 

 

 

 This was written shortly before Robert died. I often found myself sitting by the computer when it was dark and tried to compose something that would have meaning for others.

Robert and I were born in 1951, he in January and me in December. He was diagnosed with a incurable brain tumor in 1995.  So hard to think about even now.  Stacking of rocks is symbolic of many things...mourning...remembrance... a message...religion...love.