Irene

 

I.

Ghostly ocean wave

Frothing rising in white foam

Mother rides the tide

II.

Abandoned flowers

Cast in fall into ocean

Found growing in dunes

III.

Child now growing old

In summer time finds cool shade

Awaiting his ride

******************************************

Authors Notes:

Haiku I.

Her last will and testament (my mother, Irene) stated, “I want to be cremated and dispersed at Rye or Hampton Beach, (NH)” which we did.  Each of her grandchildren, some she never met, took handfuls and with quiet respect dispersed them into the outgoing tide.

Haiku II.

She left my father with reasons never discussed, after a few years returning home from WWII, leaving him with three children. His inability to deal with the situation and after transferring us to aunts and uncles, he paced us in St. Peter’s Orphanage; insisting it was a “private school” since he was paying for our room and board and being provided with excellent Jesuit teaching. Yes he did, and yes it was.

Haiku III.

Irene came back in five years and took us out of St. Peters’. She continued to raise us from where she left off with love and kindness… until we were all old enough to leave. Her courage to come back after being ex-communicated from her church and family was a radical move only a Mother could do. She has never let go since.