***Dropping A Red Rose***

Staring into the mirror seeking life
watching each dark night
as I pooled soaking
the sheets the bed clothes
I wore

I clung to hope as I saw each one
waiting, watching long hours
as a cataclysmic event
unfolded

standing on the precipice
of scorched earth
stepping around grave stones
stepping over graves
resting places

the essence of them I held within
the essence of me
reaching to touch shadows
dropping a red rose
atop a casket

my body reduced to remnants dry
as a tree now lifeless
brittle as earth in drought
cracked and devoid of water

but my soul though languishing
refused to perish
as hope will not
when secured in
determination

© January 2017 Renee Espriu

Image Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

dropping-red-rose

***Bitter Salt***

The air of life of which I breathe
comes down upon me
as soft green leaves

to beckon me my words my gift
to settle my soul bereft
as bitter salt
doth sift

through each pore each cell
within my being
crying out why
why I see

she was born perfect as
the newest of snow

she was born of my self
born of my soul

but he sought her out one day
came down upon her
has kept her nay

has kept her within each
labored breath
has made of her short life
a life long test

she endures each painful trial
he passes her through
smiling of it all
as flowers do

there is always tomorrow
a new better day
though she knows his eyes
discovers his ways

my words tell me what I should know
she was born perfect
as the purest snow

she was born of my self
born of my soul

though why he chose her
I will never know

© January 2017 Renee Espriu

File Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

purest-snow

My oldest daughter was diagnosed at the age of 23yrs with Lupus, an autoimmune disorder for which there is no cure. It took ten years to diagnose and now at the young age of forty she has once again to overcome more new diagnoses of which, all but one, are more than likely due to her Lupus. Lupus is the Latin word for wolf, which was given for a name to this disease, due to some of the ways in which it presents itself when on the skin. I have come to think of this disease as one of predator and one which my daughter has spent a lifetime in battle with. She is strong, positive and always optimistic about each day. One of the angels I always say that walks among us.

***Gracious Hearts***

I am humbled this past year
by those with helping hands
those with gracious hearts
whose first thought is
of others

those who meet each day’s sun
though hidden behind clouds
as though its’ shine alone
is not gray but silver lining

each moment & thought they have
like pressed leaves & flowers
in the pages of their memory
resilient as though just picked
of others

I am mindful of how they sweep
the path I walk with their grace
imbued of soft colors filling up
the empty space left with love

these others with helping hands
who walk as angels amongst us
with gracious hearts aiding my own
I hold up each moment I breathe
as I think of others

© December 2016 Renee Espriu

My best to all of you in 2017 and may a New Year bring you in company with the angels amongst us. Thank you for stopping by for I am always glad our paths have crossed. The Image here is Taken From the Morgue File & Digitized by Myself.

one-path