A lot of your poetry is so playful and light, but this… my goodness! So deeply excavated and wonderfully complex. Loved all the emotion, the moving snatches of specific memory – “The folded piece of warm toast pushed through the car window”. What a full-stop to your year here.
You will hold the rudder. Love makes the pain of love doable. And that they’ll know you’re there to love them to the end is the heart of your bond. And all the time over time together grows the deep tissue wisdom that will hold you together when they’re gone. And your children will see and know all this giant love. ❤️
Such a beautiful poem that expresses the complexity of ageing for us and our parents. You’ve put into verse what takes me three times as many words to describe in a post! Thank you
It’s tough getting old, but it’s not as bad when someone still loves you. Good that you’re the lover. This was one of your most touching and powerful poems I’ve read. Now I know from whence that power comes.
How beautiful and powerful, this poem! I watched with such sorrow and helplessness and love as my mother suffered with dementia and lost her struggle this past April, with me and my sister at her bedside. Her last words were "I love you," as were our words to her. My giant toppled. Oh, how I feel this!
I'm sorry you lost your mother to dementia. That is so hard. My great aunt suffered from dementia and it was heartbreaking to see such a funny, giggly lady with an incredible zest for life gradually disappear . How beautiful that the last words exchanged between you were I love you. Our fragile giants. We are all fragile giants. Sending you so much love. xx
Just starting to read your poems. I love that you write about love and gratitude, god knows we all need more art that celebrates. But somehow we need to acknowledge the darkness too, as all of us have to live with that. You write about this beautifully.
We are constantly in a tug between the two, don't you think? Although this time last year I was deep in the darkness... I'm happy to have connected with you, as your art really touched me. I hope to get back to drawing and painting soon. If I can stop writing poetry for long enough! Happy New Year! xx
You're right. I think I side-stepped the darkness for a long time, now I know I have to accept it, be with it. And now I know it's there, I work mainly to create light, as much as I can anyway. Lovely to have found you here, Happy New Year to you too! xx
A lot of your poetry is so playful and light, but this… my goodness! So deeply excavated and wonderfully complex. Loved all the emotion, the moving snatches of specific memory – “The folded piece of warm toast pushed through the car window”. What a full-stop to your year here.
Oh Ian, you’ve made me cry again. Thank you. It’s been quite a year.
WOW. right there with you.
You will hold the rudder. Love makes the pain of love doable. And that they’ll know you’re there to love them to the end is the heart of your bond. And all the time over time together grows the deep tissue wisdom that will hold you together when they’re gone. And your children will see and know all this giant love. ❤️
Such a beautiful poem that expresses the complexity of ageing for us and our parents. You’ve put into verse what takes me three times as many words to describe in a post! Thank you
It’s tough getting old, but it’s not as bad when someone still loves you. Good that you’re the lover. This was one of your most touching and powerful poems I’ve read. Now I know from whence that power comes.
I feel this. So much.
A power and love in this one!! It’s beautiful!
Thank you! My husband thinks it’s my best one 🤗
He’s right; it is pretty amazing!!
Wow, Cesca, so much emotion and so much love. Well done and I can relate.
Thank you very much, CJ.
You’re welcome, Cesca.
How beautiful and powerful, this poem! I watched with such sorrow and helplessness and love as my mother suffered with dementia and lost her struggle this past April, with me and my sister at her bedside. Her last words were "I love you," as were our words to her. My giant toppled. Oh, how I feel this!
I'm sorry you lost your mother to dementia. That is so hard. My great aunt suffered from dementia and it was heartbreaking to see such a funny, giggly lady with an incredible zest for life gradually disappear . How beautiful that the last words exchanged between you were I love you. Our fragile giants. We are all fragile giants. Sending you so much love. xx
“Fragile giants,” such a beautiful phrase. Thank you for this kind comment.
Bravo - v well encapsulated.
Thank you, Will.
I love this.
Thank you, Sandra. Happy New Year! xx
🥹 so beautiful
Merci…
Just starting to read your poems. I love that you write about love and gratitude, god knows we all need more art that celebrates. But somehow we need to acknowledge the darkness too, as all of us have to live with that. You write about this beautifully.
We are constantly in a tug between the two, don't you think? Although this time last year I was deep in the darkness... I'm happy to have connected with you, as your art really touched me. I hope to get back to drawing and painting soon. If I can stop writing poetry for long enough! Happy New Year! xx
You're right. I think I side-stepped the darkness for a long time, now I know I have to accept it, be with it. And now I know it's there, I work mainly to create light, as much as I can anyway. Lovely to have found you here, Happy New Year to you too! xx
You’ve really captured the colossal puzzle that is family, the vulnerability of ageing parents and facing the unknown. Amazing poem, Francesca.
Then you, Wendy ❤️
Extraordinary, beautiful take on growing old.
What a heart touching poem, Francesca.
May we have the strength to catch our giants when they fall.