From Paloma:
For today, we return to our featured poet, Fuyuko Tomita. Here is a wonderful tanka I think we can all relate to:
For today, we return to our featured poet, Fuyuko Tomita. Here is a wonderful tanka I think we can all relate to:
さんさんとそそぐ朝日の文机に遺す未完の歌ぞ淋しき
Sansan to/ sosogu asahi no/fuzukue ni/ nokosu mikan no/ uta zo samishiki
How lonely I would be
left behind on my desk
an unfinished poem
in the glorious morning sun
left behind on my desk
an unfinished poem
in the glorious morning sun
~~::~~
I do have an unfinished poem haunting me, but that is not likely to be resolved any time soon. And that is not what this poem makes me think of. Instead it's the idea of loneliness itself.
My mother-in-law passed away in January two years ago. She spent the last few months of her life in a nursing home. It was not a happy place. My lovely wife made a round trip of about 150 miles almost every other day to see her, and check on her situation and care. There were many people there living out their last days who never had a visitor.
she sits on her bed
nurses coming and going
making duty rounds
one more sunday afternoon
nurses coming and going
making duty rounds
one more sunday afternoon
nobody comes to visit
~~::~~
My other thought was of a loveless marriage. Ever have one of those? I did once. It is the most exquisite agony.
the worst loneliness
feeling left out and ignored
when you’re with someone
in the cold hard marriage bed
two people with their backs turned
~~:~~
feeling left out and ignored
when you’re with someone
in the cold hard marriage bed
two people with their backs turned
~~:~~
The first situation is such a sad one that too many seniors are experiencing. The second one I experienced, but thankfully, the two of us worked through our problems. Well, done on both.
ReplyDeleteThe first is so real. But being a child to one who neither knew one or even remembered you were there if you left the room and returned, visits can be heartrending. Excellent take x two.
ReplyDeleteA dear friend of ours, who was only in his 70's had such horrible dementia he didn't know his wife and couldn't find his way to the bathroom. He had been a brilliant guy and a wonderful musician. it was so cruel.
DeleteHeartbreaking!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh, JzB - these moved me so deeply.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these with us --
Namaste --
Very beautiful and heartfelt tanka...visiting my mom for the past six years with her dementia was more for me, I think. And stopping by to say hello to other residents too became a ritual. A loveless marriage can hurt more than loneliness for sure...we see it in restaurants when a couple just eat...never lifting their heads to speak to each other.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured two different kinds of loneliness and they are both heart-rending. Wonderful work.
ReplyDeleteYour blog isn't letting me comment with my blog so mine is at...
https://debispoems.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/168/