Two poems this week in Misfit Magazine along with other wonderful poets. I’ll post one today and one tomorrow. My thanks to Alan Catlin for including me. He is retiring as editor of Misfit, and the poetry world will miss him.
Sidelines
The father of my children died this week.
We’d both remarried, but his wife
passed away a year or two ago.
What was my place in the final vigil,
announcement to friends, sorting
household stuff, paperwork?
I consoled, cooked, hugged my kids
and their kids. But it felt like being
in the stands, lamenting a football loss
that wasn’t even close.
Sarah Russell Poetry 
Nice one Sarah.
LikeLike
Thanks, Steve.
LikeLike
Thank you for being there for your children and grandchildren.
LikeLike
Well, I tried, Charlotte. I felt very helpless, and don’t know if I succeeded or not.
LikeLike
As I have aged, I have found that just being available has been a stable factor for my younger relatives.
Love your poetry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Sarah. Two great poems.
LikeLike
Thanks a lot, Robert. Misfit is one of my favorite journals. Always great poems. Glad when I can slip in one or two!
LikeLiked by 1 person
congrats, sarah. both were so moving in different ways. i’ve been in this exact position before and you have described the situation of my ex passing away and the memorial for him. i went for my children and grandchildren, was present and a part of it, but felt like i was watching from afar.
your second poem, ‘I pick up a shard, thin
as tissue, and it weeps in my hand.’ and your last line both really hit deeply.
LikeLike
Thanks, Beth. Yes, very different poems, but somehow the same feeling in both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one.
LikeLike
Thanks, Louella.
LikeLiked by 1 person