by Magi the magical poet is flowing with the wind
Member since:
March 29, 2006

No Goodbyes

January 26, 2013 03:49 PM UTC
views: 0 | 22 people recommend this | comments: 69


No Goodbyes

 

I spoke to your niece

early this morning on Skype

with me here in wintry America

and she across the wild seas

where it was already evening

deepening into summery night

with a vast fireworks display

to celebrate Australia Day

just minutes ago ended

and her two little ones

who’d gazed excitedly

up in awe and delight

were newly tucked in bed

but already drifting into sleep


Your niece

my grey-faced daughter

told me that you

my former sister-in-law

who’d forever been my

stalwart friend and always

resolutely in my corner

through all storms raging

had

dear God

the night before

walked into the back garden

and without one word of goodbye

hung herself


Oh

dear God

why

why

 

 

Comments: 69

elizabeth evans Jan 26, 2013, 4:24pm UTC
Such sad news you heard this morning, Mag. My heart goes out to you and your family during this time of grief. I don't think we'll ever know why Dal felt that life no longer held promise for her.
JOHN BECK Jan 26, 2013, 4:36pm UTC
I'm sure we'll never understand. My heart goes out to you and yours as well, Magi.
I think suicide raises so many questions ... ones that can never be satisfactorily answered. Suicide is a tragedy that blindly strikes all those left behind. The event and the news of it came as a great shock to me ... to everyone who knew her.

Dal and I were close friends going back to 1967. I will miss her.

Thanks Bob and John.
Truth Always Jan 26, 2013, 6:33pm UTC
I am so sorry for your loss...
Thank you.
Marilyn (PaintsOnSlate) S. Jan 27, 2013, 2:31pm UTC
I am so sorry for your loss - if only there where a answer to that question Why. My heart is breaking for you and your family.
Thank you, Marilyn. There is no answer - the ones that spring to mind raise even more questions.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 4:42pm UTC
Hold tight to the wonderful memories.
Karen E. Jan 26, 2013, 4:27pm UTC
Oh this is awful news!
Dreadful news.
Len Maxwell Jan 26, 2013, 4:49pm UTC
I am so sorry, Magi. The only comfort I can offer is to keep you and your family in my prayers.

Featured on The Triple Name Club.
It is a tragedy with an ever widening ripple effect to strike so many people who knew her, Len.

Thank you.
Ishbel R. Jan 26, 2013, 5:06pm UTC
What a sad,sad event.

My thoughts are with you.
It is terrible, Ishbel. Terrible.
Ishbel R. Jan 26, 2013, 6:19pm UTC
I will send out strong thoughts for you and yours.
Thank you very much.
Madame Donna C. Jan 26, 2013, 5:15pm UTC
My heart is with you and your family, Magi. I'm so sorry for your grief.
Thank you very much, Donna.
Pam Brittain Jan 26, 2013, 5:30pm UTC
Magi, this is tragic. You all have my love and support. This is a difficult thing to get through and I'm not sure one ever does. I too have that question of "why" haunting me.
Thank you, Pam. Dal's husband, two children and little granddaughter will feel it the most. I don't think there is a rational answer to the question why that explains it all. Her death will haunt a lot of people for years to come.
Nancy S. Jan 26, 2013, 7:17pm UTC
Oh this is so tragic Magi. No words can ease this pain I know. I pray she has finally found peace and I pray for all your family.
Thank you very much, Nancy.
Kathryn Flynn Jan 26, 2013, 7:37pm UTC
Oh, so very sad for all of this, that whatever she felt and what all this has brought to you.

So so very sad about this, mag.
It is sad beyond words, my friend.
Kathryn Flynn Jan 26, 2013, 8:45pm UTC
It brought chills and tears... I am so very sorry.. for everybody in her family, near and far, close and extended.
Thank you.

Suicide affects an ever widening circle of people - and the questions raised by it really have no convincing answers. It is a dreadful event.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 4:41pm UTC
The forever unanswered questions are dreadful indeed my friend. All we can hope for is peace.
Peace of mind is what we all search for in this world. With the grace of God guiding us, we can hope to find it and make it ours.
Dennis Gilman Jan 26, 2013, 7:57pm UTC
Thanks for postint this to Losing Your Religion.
My pleasure, Dennis.
Audrey Howitt Jan 26, 2013, 9:47pm UTC
This is such awful news--and there are no answers--my heart goes out to all of you
Thank you, Audrey.
Sonia M. Jan 27, 2013, 12:13am UTC
What a terrible shock for you and all of those she left behind...I'm so, so sorry, Magi...My heart goes out to you. Not much else I can say...
It did come as a dreadful shock, Sonia. The why of it is a question that will haunt because there are no meaningful answers to bring peace to those in the turmoil of it all.

Thank you, my friend.
Sonia M. Jan 27, 2013, 12:21pm UTC
The why anyone chooses that path is so baffling to me...I can just imagine the questions and pain for the ones left behind and don't think I could ever put anyone through that...but then, I am not walking in their shoes and have no earthly idea of what motivates someone to take that step. So devastating.
Devastating and baffling.
Sonia M. Jan 27, 2013, 4:04pm UTC
Indeed...
J. Reid Jan 27, 2013, 8:44am UTC
Empathy...

Thank you for submitting to: Not Gathering Dust!
Thank you.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 27, 2013, 10:00am UTC
So incredibly tragic and your pen was infused with the power of your grief.

My thoughts are with you....I'm so very sorry.
Thank you, Michelle.
Faith H. Jan 27, 2013, 10:33am UTC
Magi, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My thanks to you as well, Faith.
Ann Marcaida Jan 27, 2013, 1:25pm UTC
Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Featured in honor of Dal.
You are most kind. Thank you, Ann.
lynn a. Jan 27, 2013, 3:39pm UTC
My heart goes out to you, Magi, and to all her family. What continues to come to my mind when thinking about this is Dominus vobiscum. Take care.
Thank you, my friend. The Lord be with you, too.
Irina Dimitric Jan 28, 2013, 12:34am UTC
Oh how very, very sad. My heart goes out to you, Magi, and to your niece's family.
Thank you very much, Irina. It is sad beyond words - a tragedy beyond words.

I trust God will gather her into His arms and tenderly brush away all that drove her to that desperate act.
Irina Dimitric Jan 28, 2013, 6:51pm UTC
She is now at peace in God's arms - her loved ones will need God's love to help them deal with this tragedy. Blessings to you all.
Granny Janny Jan 28, 2013, 6:13pm UTC
To comfort you:
Farther Along
Songwriters: BAXTER, J. R. / STEVENS, W.B. B.
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us never molested though in the wrong
When death has come and taken our loved ones it leaves our home so lonely and drear
Then do we wonder why others prosper living so wicked year after year
Farther along we'll know all about it farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine we'll understand it all by and by
Faithful till death said our loving Master a few more days to labor and wait
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing as we sweep through the beautiful gates
Farther along we'll know all about it...
Yes we'll understand it all by and by
Thank you, my friend.
Granny Janny Jan 28, 2013, 6:17pm UTC
To comfort you:
Please copy and paste this beautiful song into your browser...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EfZyRSuRLIs
I followed the link - it really is a beautiful song. Thanks for that, Jan.
Barbary C. Jan 28, 2013, 10:01pm UTC
Bill and I give you and yours our sincere condolences.

If there is anything we can do for you please let us know...
Love, especially, can fly over the miles.
Oh, how lovely and gracious of you, my dear friends. Thank you very much.
Shelbia C. Jan 29, 2013, 12:29am UTC
How sad. My prayers and condolences are with you and your family.
Thank you so much, Shelbia.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 4:37pm UTC
Oh my goodness sakes. I am just now finding your post. My heart goes out to you and you know I feel your pain. The why's are hardly ever answered in our lifetime. I hope one day I will get answers of my own. So very sorry my friend for your horrific loss. A forever pain and hole in your heart.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 4:57pm UTC
I submitted a post in 2011. It has helped me get through some of the questions (as much as we will ever be able to). When you have a few minutes, it may hep you to go back and read it, along with the comments. Make sure you read your comments left as well. The Cup Analogy
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 5:32pm UTC
s/b *help*
Thank you very much, Carol, for your understanding ... you have been there.

I went to The Cup Analogy and re-read it and the comment stream. None of it has really dated as such. All of it is still relevant

I think there is no single why - all plausible answers generate more questions which generate more answers. It is a ripple effect - as is the impact of the act upon others.

Peace to us all.
ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 29, 2013, 5:53pm UTC
Yes, suicide effects so many at different levels.
I hope you can find peace soon.
Thank you, Carol.
Trudy O. Jan 31, 2013, 6:41am UTC
My heart goes out to you. I am sorry for your loss.
That's kind of you, Trudy. Thank you very much.
Debbie W. Jan 31, 2013, 4:09pm UTC
So sorry for your loss
Thank you.
Sheila Deeth Apr 10, 2013, 8:48pm UTC
I am so late to say sorry, but sorry all the same. And your words are so powerfully haunting.

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Business | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Giveaways | Health | Money | Moms | News | Politics | Sports | Style | Technology | Travel | Writing
Version 18247, "Zach"; Copyright © 2013 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.