Poetry Unbound

For the eleven years I lived there, my mother always said she wanted to die in the living room (ah, the irony) of my hilltop home, looking out at the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain. However, her last illness took place in North Carolina where she grew so weak she could not travel. Nine days before she died, she paid a fortune to have an ambulance transport her, it took them 19 hours, from North Carolina to my Vermont living room. Hospice put a hospital bed and oxygen in that room, taught me how to care for her, and for nine days my mom, Toby (my gentle Labradoodle) and I listened to Bach and watched the Greens. The sunrises. The changing colors of water and sky. The red geraniums in the window boxes. I administered so much morphine and held her--her hand or body. Toby and I slept on the couch adjacent to the bed. She died at 2:00 a.m. on a Sunday. It was agonizing and good enough.

Comments

Lyn Taylor Hale
Liked by Pádraig Ó Tuama
Jun 7

A woman with agency even in death.

Margaret Benson
Jun 7
Like (12)

Lisa Marie Simmons
Jun 7

Lyn, what care you brought. My heartfelt condolences.

Sherry Vechery
Jun 7

Hugs. I feel this so deeply. Thank you for being there for your mom.

Jae J Casella
Jun 7

Heartbreaking and good enough. Hugs 💜

Emily Elliot
Jun 8
Dear Lyn, what a vivid compelling description of living the last nine days of your mom's dying. Thank you for the depths of your generosity in sharing it. Do you know this poem of WS Merwin? I discovered it today and thought this was a good place for it: Rain Light by W.S. Merwin. Hugs, Emily

Laura Newton
Jun 9
Thank you for sharing this gorgeous poem.

David Goodall
Jun 7
How lovely that she came home to die. That's really precious; thank you

Katherine G Everett
Jun 7
I too cared for and held my mother's hand. Deeply grateful for that. Wishing you peace.

In Response

Lynn Sanford
Jun 7
Oh Lyn both my mother and father died similarly in the room where I am now.

WritingWithWater
Jun 11
Reading your comment.......and sending care.........the red geraniums really moved something within me..........a memory perhaps........may gentle love wrap you in care during this time.....

Patty McGrath
Jun 8
I’m so glad she ordered a completely extravagant ride from North Carolina to Vermont. Some things are just too important to hold off. And blessings on you for your loving care to the end.