Thursday, March 2, 2017

Softly, Roses



The bier, formal, pristine,
worn hands folded primly 
on the crisply folded sheet,
her face serene, untroubled,
all pain eased, no more grasping at life
or plucking at blankets:
her spirit had flown free of its fetters.

Though it was mid-winter,
windows closed,
the soft fragrance of roses 
suffused the room,
perfuming her passage
into the land of souls.


for Susie's prompt at Real Toads: Perfume

I have heard family stories about the scent of roses accompanying some souls as they passed over, though there was no earthly explanation for it.
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17 comments:

  1. Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene)March 2, 2017 at 10:41 AM

    Lovely and appropriate mi amiga. This can assuage the pain felt by those who have lost an incarnate friend or family member.

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  2. Sanaa RizviMarch 2, 2017 at 10:52 AM

    This is beautifully emotive, Sherry ❤️ I too have heard something similar. Here it is believed that when a loved one visits us (in spirit) fragrance of sandalwood or rose accompanies.

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  3. AnonymousMarch 2, 2017 at 11:40 AM

    This is absolutely beautiful! I had not heard that, but it is somehow comforting.

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  4. AnonymousMarch 2, 2017 at 12:29 PM

    One of my favourite of your poems Sherry - the plucking at blankets so poignant & a soulful second verse

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  5. ThotpurgeMarch 2, 2017 at 4:31 PM

    wow... that was surreal.

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  6. AnonymousMarch 2, 2017 at 5:39 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. AnonymousMarch 2, 2017 at 5:40 PM

    Thank you for this soft memory.

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  8. Sumana RoyMarch 2, 2017 at 10:15 PM

    it's beautiful, and fulfilling...

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  9. hedgewitchMarch 3, 2017 at 4:39 AM

    This is beautifully constructed to lead the reader on into its final thoughts, light as a petal dropping, when life falls away from us--at least for some, and that peace is eloquent here in every line. I think your new home is agreeing with your muse, Sherry.

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  10. Kim M. RussellMarch 3, 2017 at 5:20 AM

    This is so moving, Sherry.
    After my grandmother passed away I kept smelling her perfume, which was lily of the valley.

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  11. annell4March 3, 2017 at 6:57 AM

    I liked it...and want it to be true...it is such an important event, it seems to need some special thing to go along....often it just happens, and that is all. My Mom took three breaths and did not exhale, that was all there was, I was left with the pain, and there was no smell of roses.

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  12. Kerry O'ConnorMarch 3, 2017 at 7:01 AM

    all pain eased, no more grasping at life
    or plucking at blankets

    This reminds me of my grandmother, though I did not notice a scent of roses when she passed, fresh flowers always remind me of her.

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  13. Maude LynnMarch 3, 2017 at 8:16 AM

    Oh, this is so beautiful, Sherry! Really moving.

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  14. brudbergMarch 3, 2017 at 12:14 PM

    I love the scent that follow you... this is how I would love to pass one day.

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  15. Myrna R.March 4, 2017 at 7:36 AM

    I've heard of that scent too. I like your depiction of this peaceful death scene. I hope it will be ours some day.

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  16. Susie ClevengerMarch 5, 2017 at 12:43 AM

    I remember when my grandmother died the scent of roses lingered with me for years. I was only nine and knew nothing about death, but I felt it must be a garden where roses never die. Beautiful poem. Thanks so much for writing for the prompt.

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  17. grapelingMarch 5, 2017 at 11:14 PM

    beautiful, Sherry ~

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