I never sent you print birthday wishes,
Preferred telephone calls or jotted notes,
But today marks eighteen years, my sister;
Eighteen unsent happys, full of frilled quotes
And cured cursive, unabashedly winked
Across a rainbowed river of milled hope
Meant for what’s living in us, that trite ink
Cartooning affection. But we don’t send
Cards to the dead. Your gifts are flowers, pink
And unsigned; begonias I plant, their stems
Tangled together, these blooms in part sun
All I can give you, this lemon-rose scent.
***At dVerse we are trying our terza rima.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
Funny, we both used ‘trite’ in qa poem today.>KB
Ha–I will have to look at yours! Did you send it to me? I detest birthday cards… No other word for them but trite.
I sent you a whole package last night in a zip file. Tell me if you got it.>KB
I have it, have not opened it yet. Saving your goodies for later.
Unless they are home made. I love those, showing somebody can be bothered.
Such a sad poem, of necessity.
When flowers are all we have. Beautiful.
-Jennifer
Thanks, Jen. Reminding me of that phrase–say it with flowers. You just gave me another idea!
This is lovely sad and moving. Beautiful, Susan.
Thank you, Alice.
“prefabricated sentimentality” I once heard a wise old man describe hallmark cards…
Oh, I SO agree. As poets, we can do better than those.
well, you can!
and… I’m still hopeful about myself! 🙂
Oh, you most certainly can!
tanks – the rain has me blue!
Aw … brought tears to my eyes …
Thank you, Polly.
Beautifully moving
Thank you, Celestine.
what an emotional turn in your verse…from birthdays to he being gone…and yet still to celebrate…leave her flowers…even a handwritten note…def moving….
Thank you, Brian. Tough day for me, but it does get easier.
This started out beautifully; happy and joyous, which made the turn to loss and longing all the more powerful, Susan. And you are so right about the industrial rhymes of the card companies; they are mostly awful and some don’t even ascend to those dizzy heights.
Tony–Love how you worded your critique of the card companies here 😉
Susan, this is a great poem, you even included the famous volta, where you turn all arond by telling us your sister is dead.. Really really great poetry, and it hit me right in my gut. I have a lump in my throat as I write this.
Bjorn, thank you. Rough day for me.
from your heart to mine – it’s 28 since my brother/best friend has gone – thank you
Thank you, Paul. Some spaces stay empty in our hearts. They need to and should.
oh susan….big hugs your way…this must be so difficult for you and i really love how you capture the emotions…i hope they read poetry in heaven, you know…i’m sure she loves it
Thanks, Claudia. Your comment is so kind and sweet. I hope she knows, too.
Oh, this is very sad, Susan. I wasn’t prepared for the ending….but then again one is not ever prepared for those we love to die!
No we’re not ever prepared for that. Actually, today started out well, but then… I wrote this.
you last stanza is esp. poignant for me. (()) thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Jane.
Susan, what a beautifully sad piece – had to swallow hard.
wonderful work!
Miri, thank you. Was a tough one to write.
oh i can imagine… xx
Hugs back!
Oh, Panda posted something–he’s ALIVE!!!!!
omg did he… i have to find it – was worried about him!
I was worried too, but he’s still kicking. We need to go over to the UK and do a sanity intervention… Bring lots of chocolate and red wine.
heh, sounds like a plan… not that far from me 😉
Lucky woman, you. It will take me @16 hours, though I would fly far for good chocolate.
oooh so would i 🙂 the way is never too long for chocolate!
A card is a physical or cyber representation of sentiment, and I’m sure she knows yours knows no limit.
Thanks, Nelle. I am sure she does.
Beautiful and heart rendering ~ I hope she is smiling when she reads this ~ Hugs to you dear ~
Grace
Thanks, Grace, for your beautiful comment. I hope she does too.
Beautiful words of love and loss – hugs on this sad day for you.
Anna :o]
Thank you, Anna, for your kind words.
Beautiful use of the form, and so very moving.
Thank you so much, Rowan.
To wrap up all these in one – joy and sadness, presence and loss, remembrance and letting go – takes a fortitude borne out of years of sufferance.
Thank you, Samuel. I am no stranger to sufferance. Appreciate your reading this.
Tender and heart felt and your love reflected off the rainbow river.
Aw, thanks, Jen!
you are welcome honey x
Very touching sonnet, leaving the lemon rose scent… really beautiful…just the sense of it lingering like her memory, so moving.
Thank you, Di.
A poignant piece. Some vaccum remains always but its is best that way it remaisn alive in memories. Nice work on the form.
Thanks, Akika!
A really beautiful sonnet for your sister, Susan. Love the ‘rainbow river of milled hope’. It’s been since 1975 since my sis passed.
How you must love her! This is so touching!
Thank you, Noel. Yes, some spaces in our hearts are meant to stay empty. We go on, but we remember, always. I know you know this one.