Time for Rest

Well…the haikuhorizons prompt this week–“rest”–begged me to jump in.  Although it’s been a lovely and finally warm weekend, my mother’s family has, in the space of four days, lost two men still in the prime of their lives.  My mother’s cousin lost her (STBX) husband and the father of her three children to a heart attack.  Even though he was STBX, he was by all accounts a wonderful father to his three children who had done great work for our community.  And at 65, far too young and with far too much left to do.

Four days later, yesterday, the same cousin lost her brother (also my mother’s cousin) to the Big C.   He was a gentle soul, and fought it long enough to see the birth of his first granddaughter, on his mother’s birthday, this past February.

You’ll recall that I wrote about his mother, my Aunt Jill, when we lost her in August.

All in all, it’s been a very dark few months for the family and they’re not through yet.  And so…my haiku.

Too early for rest!
A skeletal finger wags
The reaper won’t wait.

The reaper won’t wait.
The gates polished and open
Welcoming new guests.

Welcoming new guests.
Those behind grieve their loss:
Too early for rest.

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10 Comments

  1. I’m so sorry for the losses in your family! Sending prayers and love your way. ❤️

  2. I’m so sorry for your families loss! Your first haiku made me giggle picturing the reaper shaking his finger.

  3. I’m sorry for your losses. The Haiku trio voices the pain and brevity of life so well. *hugs*

  4. So sorry for your loss!
    The haiku voices out the pain so well. Good one!

  5. What a beautiful poem. Although it is dark, it’s a reminder of the brevity of life. All the best to you and your family.

  6. The poem is achingly beautiful. I’m so sorry for you loss.

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