Photo: V. Slotto
rose alone
a faded rose—
a bloom remains still in
those shrunken cheeks,
those milky eyes
tears—
raindrops on a furrowed cheek
she holds my hand
in hers—a skeletal embrace
reluctantly i leave—
life calls
perhaps i fear to stay
to watch those petals fall
Monday at dVerse Poets’ Pub and Bjorn invites us to write a Quadrille, a poem of exactly 44 words that must include the word ROSE. We are gearing up for our two-week summer break so this will be the last Quadrille prompt for a while. So get to work, write your poem and join us writing 44 words and any form of the word rose. The pub opens Monday at 3:00 PM EDT.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
Yes, this is a hard situation to confront. I like the gentle restraint with which it is described.
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Wow. So very tender.
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This poem drives straight through the heart.
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Oh yes! Those falling petals, whether a metaphor or the real thing like confetti all over the ground.
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This brought tears to my eyes, as my mother has been ill and I dread the day her petals fall.
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Her petals will rise in the wind and settle in your heart. A very touching and honest piece.
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Victoria, you have made me cry.
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Lovely piece, Victoria! You conveyed a haunting image.
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So so sad. I have a friend from years ago who said when his wife passed away (longterm, from cancer, terrible), that watching all the funeral flowers die was like watching her die all over again. I haven’t bought flowers for a funeral, since.
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So very moving – I’m reminded of my lovely grandma.
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Ouch! We have been there. I enjoyed the love… and, maybe I’m just reading your poem too much in my own context, guilt. The leaving… life calling… don’t want to witness the falling petals. Beautiful. Painful. Poetry!
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Because of my life working with death and dying, I am grateful to have walked that walk with so many. Now I can only hope to be there for my 95 year old Mom.
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It is sad to watch the petals fall, Victoria. But their fragrance (memory) will linger far longer! Trust me on that!
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perhaps i fear to stay to watch those petals fall… watching this happen to my M-I-L and F-I-L, hard.
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This is so poignant, beautifully written. Thank you for sharing.
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Oh dear, the emotions you captured… so raw and clear. It’s a both terrifying and saddening at the same time. Enchanting piece, Victoria.
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Oh this is so tender, those petals falling, it’s a moment coming and just to watch, I recognize the fear.
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A tender poem of reluctantly saying the slow goodbye…(virtual hug)
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I was thinking of my own failing mother as I read this. I wonder if she can rally through this latest setback. It’s sad to know that her petals are falling…
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It’s tough to watch the petals fall. Beautiful!
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Oh so heartfelt
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What a tender and sad poem about your mother. I too fear to stay and watch the petals fall. We always leave slowly but our lives do go on. Such a lovely poem. It brought tears to my eyes
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As many people as I’ve accompanied on this journey of dying, I do pray I am able to do the same for my mother. As you experience, it’s not easy living at a distance and every time I have to leave, I wonder. When I wrote this, I wasn’t really thinking of Mom but I can see how perhaps my unconscious took over.
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I understand. I wonder every time I hang up the phone from talking with her, every day. Today was a good day.
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Took my breath away.
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I too would be fearful to watch those petals fall…. a lovely metaphor for that faded rose Victoria!
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I’m not sure exactly how to participate: Here’s my link: https://victoriayoun.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/monday-at-dverse-poets-pub-a-quadrille/
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Fear to stay to watch the petals fall… so poignant. Thanks for the heads up on the Quadrille prompt 🙂 https://thotpurge.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/phantom-rose/
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A lovely rose and poem. Thank you for being my early warning system for the quadrille – it wouldn’t appear in my inbox until nearly bedtime! Now I can get ahead.
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