Calm are the seas I travel now,
the sail is down,
how tranquil is the ocean.
I drift past the deserted islands
with their scattered palms and
fallen coconuts,
I lay on the deck, with bronzed
skin and a salty mouth.
Calm are my seas as
I remember you with love…
The soft magnolia smell of warm breezes
whispers through my hair,
all is blue, placid and serene,
You are here in my memory beloved.
Always as essential as the mainstay.
Calm are my seas now…
dear susie,
i read the letter between two women, as well as the beautifully composed poem to honor your darling hamada’s second anniversary. it felt as though my breath was taken away through much of what i read, soaring up so high with the profound wisdom and deepest desire to console and encourage, then the emotions of trying to put myself in your place, attempts to feel what you and your friend feel, and knowing that, no, not really, i have not experienced the loss of my dearest love. then crashing down, recalling all the times of fear, when i envision and am frightented at the thought that MM might make me a widow. having only the fear, and not the living through it all; i know, susie, that you went through that also.
but sharing these letters, the questions and answers measured so beautifully across time frames of a deeply raw wound and a loss, though always present and poignant, that has taken grief and love and longing into a life with beauty and hope is a shining and lovely light to all who read this post. i wish you, dear susie, all the beauty and hope and love your heart can hold. and i also wish the same for your friend. i love the photo of your beloved hamada, so handsome, with his wonderful smile. thank you for sharing this most enlightening, comforting and inspiring post and exchange of letters …between two women…
love,
karen, TC
Thank you Karen for your comment left here. How kind to take time to enter your words of praise when from reading I understand that you also have a love one with MM. Difficult times for you I know.
It was with much thought I published these letters but with the hope they may help another, who may be at the moment of loss or grieving. A subject that is not talked about enough, certainly not here in the UK – we adopt the ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude but from my mail I know how these exchanges have helped and comforted many.Multiple Myeloma is indeed a most difficult illness and so many fear the end. As shown in these letters published here, this is not the case and there is nothing to fear nor ever need be with careful management and much love.
I am so glad that my poem “Calm Are The Seas” gave you the understanding of encouragement and perhaps some peace – simple words are always the best in times of grief.
My very best wishes go to you and to your much loved one. Stay strong and do well with the precious time you have. Please stay in touch.
Susie x
Susie,
I remain in constant awe at the immense good you do here, through your magnificent poems and wise and comforting words, to so many of us. You are performing such an amazing ministry in such an unique way.
Wishing you every blessing, and keeping you in my prayers.
Thank you Sian. Your comments are truly generous. It is a quiet way of helping perhaps. People live with much fear when caring long hours for a loved one, they are tired with worry that the ‘end game’ will not be as they wish. So many do not have anyone to talk to about this or feel they cannot burden family members with their pain. Not always the case of course but it is hopefully wise to show and talk of the concerns and see in these personal emails how some of us managed and to try to understand the changes in life that befall us all and then the coming to terms of people after they have endured profound grief but find that they can and will manage. Thank you for your support and your prayers.
Hi Susie,
Such a beautiful poem….. thinking of you and Hamada today. From what I have read you guys seemed to have had the perfect love….. take care my sweet friend! Judy xoxo
Dear Susie, I’m so choked up over this love poem to Hamada. It always amazes me I can have so much emotion for a man I never met and for his beautiful wife left to bear the suffering of his passing. That you can keep creating these splendid messages in poetic form is a gift to all of us that treasure you and hold you close with intent to ease your pain in return. Much love from a distance – Lora xoxox
Thank you so much Judy – I am glad you found ” Calm Are The Seas” beautiful – it was first written after a time of great medical distress for Hamada and then a reached plateau of calm – I just adjusted it a bit to fit this two year anniversary. We had a love full of passion, tenderness and much joy – I regard my many years with him as a privilege – yes I was very lucky x
Oh dear Lora – your words brought much emotion to me too! We have travelled a long road together – all of us that MM has connected – the only good thing that this illness brought us!
Hamada had the sort of ‘open face that attracted people to him. I was sitting chatting with an elderly retired military gentleman only the other day, he said that he had so admired Hamada – his knowledge of the world, and his good education but most of all the way he spoke with people always looking straight into their eyes with no distraction – focusing on just what that particular person had to say – he did this with Woman, Men and Children alike, just as if they were the most important person in the world and of course at that moment they were! It was always good to see the way he treated people and so all his little chats to you seemed very special. He often asked how you, Lora were getting on – and I would relay all the messages daily from his friends world-wide – he would consider them all – wise as an old owl, he was a truly special man. I need for people to remember him, it is important to me and this is the only way I know how and it helps me so. As Jo says we must always be able to recall the way he was – we must not forget these gifts he had. My love to you xoxox