Early in the morning, this past Friday, I woke up so alert and I replayed every second of the day before – when my parents were buried at Arlington Cemetery. I ended up writing eight (8!) pages in my journal, as I tried to decompress. Let me share a poem about my wakeful thinking and this special day.
waking recollections in dark of night clarity rushes through my mind’s door holding every memorable moment every caring conversation every tender touch letting me embrace these again thoughts gather like an old engine warming up sputtering spewing spitting so many different directions all at once there we were at Arlington Cemetery the day bright and clear my four brothers and I loving family and friends to bury Dad and Mom
so many faces I had not seen in years new babies to meet hugs kisses squeezes waking recollections in the dark of night remember the waiting room - just my brothers and I the military escort explaining logistics how the procession works my eyes fixating on boxes of tissue the realization this room held pain grief tragedy young military lives lost whereas we were here to honor lives lived fully and long outside in the parking lot little ones danced and squealed stories chuckles whispers shared such a glorious day my cousins, aunts, uncles my parents’ cousins, too so many friends from long ago neighbors and colleagues everyone here together supporting us
the military service - we walked behind the caisson cannons fired from the hill the honor guard in rapt attention band marching, playing Taps rifles fired in a 21 gun salute while eight sailors held the flag so reverently over my parents’ urns turning, folding, respecting
that moment - the officer handed the flag to me saying on behalf of the President of the United States the United States Navy and a grateful nation please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service he looked right at me as he spoke and his eyes watered leaving my eyes his mirror
their resting place - now they are nestled together on the hill under the tree overlooking the cemetery their great grandchildren play among the headstones
a fabulous celebration followed in the officers’ club like so many days long ago it feels so ‘once upon a time’ those early years when base life was my daily life so much has changed then and now waking recollections in the dark of night remember we arrived early - before the burial and set everything up the guard at the base gate spoke with an accent our armed forces, so diverse
the room came alive - sweet memorabilia on the table slideshow through the years stories shared at the mic spontaneous laughter and tears so many conversations so many relationships intersecting he tells me he was head of security remembers me as a teenager she tells me she’s my father’s cousin and I am just like my mother they tell me they are longtime friends from my brother’s church remember, too - oh yes yes yes she would love to have her grandparents' china what a story - the coincidence of parking next to them after so long estranged the unopened letter now in their hands and hope to heal this family hurt remember how - the room became so quiet when I shared my poem in the middle of the night I am overflowing let me sit with this word - recollection let me hold in my heart look closely at its middle: the word ‘collect’ we collect what we love, yes? to re-collect is to savor these treasures again to use one’s thoughts to gather these love moments again to sift through them like treasures on a beach holding the best ones very close waking recollections in dark of night clarity rushes through my mind’s door holding every memorable moment every caring conversation every tender touch letting me embrace these again
It’s Tuesday and I’m participating in the Slice of Life. Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this supportive community of teacher writers.
Maureen, this is beautiful, your words, the photos, all amazing. The lines accompanying your receiving the flag made my eyes well w/tears, too. I must say I’m so glad the president referenced in those lines is the one we have now and not that other one. It makes a difference. “Collect” and “recollect” are the perfect verbs for this memory. I’m so touched by your sharing the experience in this space and think that image of children playing takes us full circle and is a symbol of hope for our future as a nation.
Glenda, I am so glad that you enjoyed this post. We had such a momentous, memorable week here. My brothers and I agree that everything went perfectly – the weather, the service, their final resting place, the loved ones gathered to share memories …truly, “pinch me perfect.” I am feeling blessed!
What a beautiful set of pieces and photographs you’ve brought us, Maureen. The way you’ve put together such varying images and ideas is astounding – from the grief and gravity of the day to the excitement and play of the children who’ve been brought along. And the hand-holding photos, right by the rows of gravestones and then down to that blue, blue, blue sky. So much you’ve brought us.
One stanza that will stick with me?
“thoughts gather like an old engine warming up
sputtering spewing spitting
so many different directions
all at once”
And isn’t that how it goes with competing thoughts and feelings, coming all at once or none at all, oblivious to the type or direction we’d like them to be?
Thank you, Lainie. Yes, I tried to capture that sense of competing thoughts and feelings during my wakeful night (the early morning after this extraordinary day). Perhaps a better metaphor would have been fireworks – all these little sparks of memories and flashbacks, some huge and lingering. It was a glorious day, one that will stay with my family forever. I appreciate your words!
Maureen, I am glad that I read your slice. It was a beautiful recollection of all of the parts of a cherished event. The photos will remain as a tribute to your parents’ memory, your poems will flood your heart each time you go back and remember. I, too, loved the stanza Lainie chose. Your mind must still be racing with joy. Peace to you.
Thank you, Carol! I started to write my slice for the day and became so engrossed in ‘replaying’ everything, that, yes, I just went all in and decided to create a tribute ‘keepsake’ – if only for my own pleasure. My mind is “racing with joy” – love that!
How wonderful that you woke up alert and recorded the thoughts in your head for future generations to read. You took us through every step of this beautiful day. I particularily loved this stanza:
he looked right at me as he spoke
and his eyes watered
leaving my eyes
his mirror
The poem you shared about your parent’s marriage picture was equally as beautiful. If only each partnership could have:
a love anchor
stored on the underside of marriage’s hull
at the ready
throughout
Your marriage poem inspires me to go back and look at an old photo and examine every part of it.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful day with us.