“For someone you love deeply, love will not end with dying, or leave with the last breath. Such love never ends.”
My wife Kathy pictured above, in the amazing garden she brought forth alone,
including the fire pit area, from our backyard patch of dead grass.
S till
it sits
still
atop the corner
of our garden wall
just where she left it
how many lilies
did it nourish
how many fuscia
lilac
rose
and morning glory
did it quench
it dispensed its
life giving waters
so gracefully
in her hand
such a delicate hand
gentle in its task
of planting new growth
but rugged on the weeds
that threatened her beloved garden
she was the giver of life
and the guardian
of her realm
but she could not
stop all that threatened
and I had not
her gift of life giving
and so it rests
atop the wall
no longer is it lifted
by her tender
hand of nurture
that hand for now
is still
sleep love
to heal
Kathy Kistner
*
rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: dVerse
OLN poetry at: dVerse
Oh, I’m all goosebumps! So very tender.
Thank you Sarah… 🙂
Beautiful. 🙂
Thank you Melissa… 🙂
Exquisitely penned, Rob.
Thank you Lynn… 🙂
Touching, beautiful work, Rob. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Ron, and you are most welcome my friend. It is a work of love and manifestation. 🙂
I feel humbled to have read this piece of yours, Rob. No words beyond those from me for now… other than that you & Kathy both remain in my thoughts.
Much love,
David
Thsnk you David, your thoughts mean a great deal to me my friend… 🙂
A really beautiful poem, Rob. Your wife seems to have a green thumb. I hope all of her treatments will bring good results. I will keep you both in my prayers.
Thank you Dwight… 🙂
A lovely tribute, Rob. I could feel the admiration and respect, as well as the tenderness. Very well done, sir.
Thank you Christopher… 🙂
Rob, a very moving poem for your beloved Kathy. Thinking of you both at a very challenging time. May everything go well for her. Hang in there my friend and love her as you always have.
Thank you Christine… 🙂
What beautiful words, Rob. Keeping you both in my prayers and thoughts.
Thank you Linda… 🙂
What a beautiful and sad poem, yet woven with hope.
Thank you Boz…
Beautifully done, Rob. In my thoughts, both you and Kathy remain. Thanks for this poem, Rob. 🙂
Thank you Kitty ,and you are welcome… 🙂
Except of Rob’s comments on Hank’s:
Oh so captivating Hank!! ???? I invite you to come read my OLN offering tonight on my site — and to experience my wife Kathy’s profound love affair with nature, which is currently hampered by her newly discovered cancer. She goes into the UW Fred Hutch Cancer Center April 22nd for a multi-hour regimen of robotics surgery on her neck and throat area. Post Op will put her in ICU for Four days. Please keep Kathy, my love, in your thoughts. Thank you
Hank’s Response:
I’m so sorry to hear Rob! Kathy is lucky to have you giving all the support and love. That itself puts her in the frame of mind to face up to it bravely. It would have a strong therapeutic effect knowing she is not alone which makes her stronger. Thanks Rob for being there for Kathy. Hank will keep Kathy in his prayers to have God the Almighty accord all in His powers for a speedy recovery. Amen!
Thank you Hank… 🙂
What an amazing garden, there is so much beauty and love within both the images and your verse. Sending healing vibes and prayers for complete recovery!
Thank you Tricia… 🙂 My wife has the touch for bringing things of beauty to life.
You send all the poetry her way.
It’s wrapped in my love Brendan…
A tender, moving write, Rob. Kathy and you are in my thoughts. Sending both of your warm hugs and one day it will not still but be in Kathy’s hands as she nurtures her garden again. Stay well and stay strong, Rob. ????
Thank you Punam… giving as much support as I can for Kathy… 🙂
As promised I have just read this tender piece. stay strong for her Rob. hope you have read this to her.
Yes Rog, and another very personal… 🙂
Rob, a very moving poem for your beloved Kathy. Thinking of you both at a very challenging time. May everything go well for her. Hang in there my friend and love her as you always have.
She is my true north, my life points to her… 🙂
This is lovely Rob. A beautiful testament and expression of love. How skillfully you have placed Kathy in our thoughts and hearts.
Thank you Chris… 🙂
This is a wonderful tribute, and I hope that there is a way out of your current nightmare that brings back joy to your garden.
Thank you Björn that too is my heart’s fondest wish… 🙂