Charmed Chaos
Musings on Life, Love, and Linguine-Poetry & Writing
#Haibun: Death
February 18,1994
Chilling cold, a slate grey day. As we step from the hearse the rain, with an audible sigh of relief from the burgeoning sky, begins. People come forward, offer umbrellas.
Nothing penetrates the mask I wear, not the rain, not the cold, only the gaping emptiness of loss. As we make our way to the grave, the bagpipes haunt my every step on the lush wet grass- Amazing Grace. The rain dulls the music, it’s as if it drops into the grave below the coffin, looking for shelter. From the rain and from the pain. I want to follow it into the earthy, dark gaping hole.
Adorning the casket is a magnificent cascading spray of snow white roses. In the center of them all, a single blood red rose. From me, for love.
foreboding grey skies
One red rose in stark contrast
teardrops water grave
©2018 Linda Lee Lyberg
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Charmed Chaos 
Powerful write with the perfect ending. Also love the line about nothing penetrates the mask you wear. It helped set the mood. Bravo.
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Humble thanks. I appreciate your kind words.
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This is so beautiful Linda. May I ask about the date in 1994?
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True Walt. Husband, suicide. 🙏🏻😞💛
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Oh My God Linda… I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.I’m sorry. 😦
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No Walt, truly it’s okay. You’re my friend, your should know about me. 💛🙏🏻🌹
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And you should know about me. One day via email.
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Yes. I would love to.
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Wow! Powerful!
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Thank you!
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Excruciatingly accurate depiction of grief. Beautifully written.
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Thank you Beverly.
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Beautiful write. You wrote about your grief in such an honest way. The one red rose among the white – for love. I am so sorry to learn this about you. I hope things have healed and gotten better. I admire your fortitude.
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Thank you Toni. They have. But I think it’s good to revisit these things from time to time. To appreciate the beauty in life.
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Beautiful description of the grave site with the one red rose and the rain seeking shelter.
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Thank you Frank.
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The bagpipes, the rain, the musical notes dropping beneath the coffin – that red rose so brilliant agains everything else “grey”… Lovely and poignant.
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Thank you. I so appreciate your words.
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Sadly beautiful Linda… I could feel your pain. Loved the red rose in the white spray!
Dwight
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Thank you Dwight. Appreciate the kind words.
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Gooseflesh – I’m in awe of your strength in having had to bear such a tragedy. You wrote with compassion and a certain insight. Be well.
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Thank you.
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Thank you for sharing such a personal haibun, Linda, which evokes such loss and pain, especially in the sounds of ‘a slate grey day’, the ‘audible sigh of relief from the burgeoning sky’ and the haunting bagpipes. And the one red rose.
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Thank you Kim.
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Nothing Penetrates the mask i wear….powerfull and true for so many at funerals….for a short part of them…your poem makes me think of the colours black white green red and obviously grey..one persons thoughts..i like it
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Thank you. I appreciate you stopping by.
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The one red rose “for love” is an image that will stay in the mind, as well as the rain and sounds of the bagpipes falling into the grave along with your love. I’m sorry.
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Thank you. So long ago, yet at times, so fresh.
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You painted the gray of pain with a red rose. Perfect.
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Thank you Vivian.
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That splash of color really add the necessary color… the funeral not only marks an end but the first beginning of living in the absence of a loved one.
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Yes, thank you Bjorn. Never easy, but necessary.
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I felt this was real before reading the comments.
Bless you.
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Thank you. I appreciate your kind words.
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I admire your courage to revisit a very painful time, and the pathway to healing. the one red rose in a bed of white tells me love never fades.
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Such beautiful thoughts from you. Thank you. I so appreciate your kind words!
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The grief is palpable. Beautifully written. (K)
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Thank you. I appreciate you stopping by.
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I’m sorry, Linda, for your loss and grief that you eloquently share here. The beauty of your love symbolized by the single red rose touches me. (I recall that strong desire to jump in with coffin when my mother was buried.)
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Thank you Lynn. Grief is such a powerful emotion.
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Heartbreaking and beautiful, Linda! Thank you for sharing this magnificient portrayl of grief.
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Thank you Frank. I appreciate your kinds words. Sorry it’s something I also shared on d’Verse but I like participating in yours and it seemed appropriate.
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Not a problem, Linda. Other contributors cross-post, and I don’t mind. 🙂
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #11: Linda Lee Lyberg’s powerful #haibun for #dversepoets and my current #haikai challenge!
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Thank you!
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My honor and my pleasure, Linda! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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Pingback: #Haikai Challenge #22 (2/24/18): Barely Spring (haru asashi) #haiku #senryu #haiku #tanka #haiga #renga – Frank J. Tassone
Reblogged this on Gavin Whyte and commented:
Beautiful.
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Thank you.
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My pleasure 🙂 I felt it needed sharing.
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With humble thanks. 🙏🏻😊
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Very powerful, Linda. I felt I was there with you.
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Thank you. Touched by your words.
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I am a Funeral piper, my heart always goes out to those left behind. Long before the procession arrives at graveside my only thought is providing those in attendance with my best skills and a simple offer of honor and decorum. I always remove my hat while the final prayer is offered. I strike the pipe to life, play one verse of a chosen selection and slowly walk away. All while knowing that life for those there that day- will never be the same.
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How beautiful. You are a kind soul with a soulful heart.
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