deepundergroundpoetry.com
All the good things pass
A little over three years ago
when things were really hard
and I felt like I could die at any moment
of anxiety, heartache and boredom
trapped 3,000 miles away from home
with my mother and sister
No jobs, almost on the streets
I got up the nerve to do what I was told not to do
And that was pick up the phone and call you
Except you weren't who I was expecting
I was too scared to call my father
so I tried to call my grandparents first
First try, got grandma, terrified
said "Wrong number." and hung up
I immediately called back again
and I got you, I thought you were my grandpa
But it turned out that you were my Uncle Don,
grandpa had passed away years ago
In the last several years since we moved back home
to a new family, complete strangers
scared of new beginnings and feeling like outcasts
You were the one, you and your wife
that made us feel most welcome
Where our father failed us and lost interest
you were always there for me
coming to visit, including me in everything
that happened to bring you into town
You encouraged me in my education
dragged me around to meet kids my age
(never liked those kids, but hey, they were highschoolers)
You would have helped me whenever needed
You were smart and diplomatic
with a passion for surfing, skiing, and camping
you loved your wife, and kids
and showed me a love I had never had
that of a father who loved me
though you were just my uncle
So when your son Eric called me this morning
I was confused, woken up from dreamland
not used to his voice and wondering who he was
only for a second, until he said he had bad news
That you had died last night while skiing
And I needed to get a hold of my sister to tell her
There is no way to describe the way I am feeling right now
There is nothing I could ever compare this to
To have something so wonderful in your life
Still so new, but also familiar
taken away,
I just don't know what words could be said
to convey my thoughts
other than I am really heartbroken
that I will never get to see you again
when things were really hard
and I felt like I could die at any moment
of anxiety, heartache and boredom
trapped 3,000 miles away from home
with my mother and sister
No jobs, almost on the streets
I got up the nerve to do what I was told not to do
And that was pick up the phone and call you
Except you weren't who I was expecting
I was too scared to call my father
so I tried to call my grandparents first
First try, got grandma, terrified
said "Wrong number." and hung up
I immediately called back again
and I got you, I thought you were my grandpa
But it turned out that you were my Uncle Don,
grandpa had passed away years ago
In the last several years since we moved back home
to a new family, complete strangers
scared of new beginnings and feeling like outcasts
You were the one, you and your wife
that made us feel most welcome
Where our father failed us and lost interest
you were always there for me
coming to visit, including me in everything
that happened to bring you into town
You encouraged me in my education
dragged me around to meet kids my age
(never liked those kids, but hey, they were highschoolers)
You would have helped me whenever needed
You were smart and diplomatic
with a passion for surfing, skiing, and camping
you loved your wife, and kids
and showed me a love I had never had
that of a father who loved me
though you were just my uncle
So when your son Eric called me this morning
I was confused, woken up from dreamland
not used to his voice and wondering who he was
only for a second, until he said he had bad news
That you had died last night while skiing
And I needed to get a hold of my sister to tell her
There is no way to describe the way I am feeling right now
There is nothing I could ever compare this to
To have something so wonderful in your life
Still so new, but also familiar
taken away,
I just don't know what words could be said
to convey my thoughts
other than I am really heartbroken
that I will never get to see you again
Published 3rd Mar 2013
| Edited 4th Mar 2013
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The author encourages honest critique.
This has made my eyes fill with water,yet the tears just won't drop! Your emotions are strongly felt in this piece, Annie! Scribed with strength, depicted beautfully! I myself, know of things that are good that have come to pass. I can relate! :) xoxo
Anonymous
- Edited 3rd Mar 2013 5:25pm
3rd Mar 2013 5:05pm
<< post removed >>
Anonymous
3rd Mar 2013 5:18pm
So very sad Caliban. I feel you in your heartfelt words and my heart goes out for you and your family. Yes, it is true...good things will pass and come your way again. The trick is to savor all those around you while they are here....you just never know when they will be gone from this life forever.
My condolences....Strider :)
My condolences....Strider :)
3rd Mar 2013 5:55pm
That you are standing now is all the words you need; mission accomplished for an uncle who's greatest work is to see his love pass on.
Anonymous
3rd Mar 2013 7:29pm
A very touching poem, sad, intensly sad!
An empty feeling crawls from behind the words.
A feeling of loss
An empty feeling crawls from behind the words.
A feeling of loss
3rd Mar 2013 10:37pm
Very very sad, may he rest in peace, he sounds like he was a wonderful person....Cassie
Caliban, you are the strongest friend I have ever had. And I am sorry for your loss.. you've written something that is truly beautiful in his memory and it is no less than beautiful, that is for sure.
Stay strong..
Stay strong..
6th Mar 2013 3:53pm
Wonderful, but sad, poem. You are an excellent poet, who has the somewhat unusual ability to write prose-poems. Thank you for sharing your sorrow with me.
marcella1
marcella1
10th Mar 2013 5:58am
12th Mar 2013 8:34am
He was an amazing Uncle. I feel cheated that we didn't get to know him longer. I'm glad that we did know him however. I will miss Uncle Don. And you are right. No words can describe how you or I.... how we feel. I love you sister. You are an amazing person and the speech you gave at the memorial was beautiful. Thank you. I am going to add this page in my favourites.
