My poem, “Small Bites,” is up in the most recent issue of Anti-Heroin Chic. My thanks to EIC James Diaz for accepting this poem, and for his consistently beautiful journal. The first anniversary of my mom’s death is in a little over a week. She died from Covid. Please get vaccinated when you can and continue to wear a mask.
You can read my poem here.
I’m linking this to dVerse, Open Link Night.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
What a beautiful poem, Merril. Thank you for sharing it with us. I’ve been thinking about you lately during this difficult first anniversary. xo
Thank you so much, Jill. I appreciate your kind thoughts and words. 💙
This must be a difficult time for you, but what better tribute to your mum. Congratulations on the publication!
Thank you so much, Ingrid.
I think she would have liked this one, and I wanted to call her to read it to her. 😔
🥲
I know just what you mean. I’m still thinking I can call my mother to talk her.
It’s a strange thing. Every so often I even think about that with my dad, and he died over twenty years ago.
I think the same about my dad, particularly when I read a review of a book I know he would have loved. (He died in 2000.)
❤️
Congratulations! And it’s a beautiful poem 🙂
Thank you very much! 😀
Such a beautiful poem! What a wonderful tribute to your mother…This is a poem that lingers in the memory, touching our hearts with the ‘bittersweet’ of life and love. You capture the mother and daughter relationship so eloquently. I love how you wrote that the children are ‘reflections’ of her. So lovely! I am so sorry for the loss of your mother, but I know she is so very proud of you! My father passed away in my early thirties; I always feel his love, a ‘reflection’ that never leaves my heart.
Thank you so much for your lovely, heartfelt comment and your very kind words.
I suppose we are reflect in some way our upbringings and the world around us, including our parents. For many years, my sisters and sometimes daughters took my mom clothes shopping on Mother’s Day–so we were seeing literal reflections, too. 💙
Family is a wonderful thing…each generation passes on all the gifts they have gathered within their hearts. The legacy of love remains unbroken. Love is the one thing that grows and grows and cannot be taken from us. Like the gardens in springtime, love seeks the light and reflects it back. We cry sometimes because we love so very much…and yet, what precious tears!
Yes, you’re right. I know not everyone has a happy family. I’m fortunate that I’ve always felt loved.
Such a beautiful poem, Merril. Congratulations on having it published. I hope it gives you some comfort to write about your mom this way. From what you’ve shared about her, she would have loved it too ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you very much, Marie. That is so kind. I hope she would have. ❤️
Congratulations on the publication of your poem. It’s such a beautiful tribute to your mother and all you shared. I hope sharing her spirit with others will help ease the sting of the first anniversary of her death just a little bit.
Thank you so much, Liz. 💙💙 I thinking the writing does help.
That’s good. It’s helped me, too.
Wonderful Merril. Food is such a strong connection with those we love. Congratulations on the publication too. (K)
Thank you so much! Yes, it seems like our family get togethers always involve food. 😀 💙
Us too. Cooking together is something we’ve always enjoyed.
Such a beautifully poignant poem, Merril, especially the image of all of you being reflections of her. The photograph with its recollection of blowing out candles was also such a very apt choice.
Thank you so very much for reading and for your kind words, Derrick.
I love this. A beautiful portrayal of the circle of life. Savour each memory as they come…
Thank you very much, Dale. ❤️
Truly beautiful.
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Congrats, Merril! Very tender poem. xo
Thank you, Luanne!💙
I truly loved hearing you read this today. The first stanza is so heartfelt…..and the line mother to daughter to mother so very meaningful to the changing relationship that often happens when our mothers age and we take on the parenting role.
I did not realize your mother died of Covid….I am so so sorry for your loss.
She was obviously a very special woman. 🙂
Thank you very much, Lillian. 💙 She was 97, but it was first lack of stimulation at the nursing home and then Covid that led to her death. (We think her roommate had it, and then the staff and other patients.)
Mazal tov! This is such a special piece, Merril.
-David
Thank you very much, David.
I am so sorry for your loss, Merril. This is such a beautiful, deeply moving tribute .. the memories of our loved ones .. continue to reside in our hearts.
Thank you so much, Sanaa. Yes, they do. ❤️
I can’t imagine losing my mother. Your poem is a love-filled tribute to her.
Congratulations on the publication, Merril. It’s a wonderful tribute, and I enjoyed your reading at Open Link Live.
Thank you very much, Ken!
As you know, your poem choked me up last night when you read it so beautifully, Merril, and I have tears again this morning.
Thank you so much, Kim. I’m please that this touched you so, though I’m sorry for making you cry.
No need to be sorry. It shows how good the poem is.😊
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This is tender, elegant, and beautifully written. Hearing you read it yesterday was so engaging Merrill. It radiates warmth and love… and bittersweetness. Please forgive me. I wrote Kim instead of Merril in my Anti-Heroin Chic post. Kim was were I was heading next and I had brain lock. So very sorry.
Thank you so much, Rob. I appreciate your kind words.
This is such a tender piece of writing. At a certain age our parents are reduced to just memories.
Thank you very much, Björn. Yes, true.