[Critique Group 2] Leonard's comments on Alice's piece

[tuchyner5 at aol.com]

This poem of a daughter’s anguish about her motherdying alone, 



and her Mother’s  communication to herdaughter that no one dies alone 



is uplifting. 



Wile  the readerfeels the full dismay of the daughter, 



he/she is comforted by the mother’s response to herdaughters pain. 



I like the way the repeated word of “believe” is  emphasized by the repetition.  



It is an entreaty to believe. 



The reader feels the anguish of the daughter , 



as wel as the hope of the mother’s message.  



I’m  notfamiliar with the phrase, “snow covered wings of love.” 



Can you say more about that.



Epistolary Prayer Debate of Our Times



 



FictionalPoem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa



 



Dear editor,



Cc:



Dear Governor,



Dear State Senator,



Dear God,



 



No one should be disallowed



>From holding the hand of a loved one



At one’s dying hour.



I beg you:



Please pass the “Dying Hand Bill,”



WC 07.15.19.50,



Today--



Because even today is too late



For some,



For too many,



For my mother.



 



Whether this bill allows a gloved or unglovedhand,



You must pass this bill



For all who are loved.



 



My mask may hide my feelings in public;



But my heart will forever bleed



Upon this page



For I will be forever haunted, haunted



By my mother’s being forced



To die alone--



Alone, alone--



No one to hold her hand.



 



Now, alone, alone, I will carry this tragicimprint



On my heart



For all of my remaining tearful,



Grieving days.



 



With grave concern,



Crying Resident in Milwaukee



 



* * *



 



Dear editor,



Dear daughter,



 



God bless my daughter



For she is good;



And despite the tone of her voice and pen,



She means well.



 



I am well:



I am just so far away;



Yet you will be surprised by the times



I have been so near to you,



My daughter.



 



Do not let the thoughts of that night



Haunt you.



I believe--



Yes, I believe



That someone did hold my ungloved hand



That night.



In the velvet darkness of that night



Came a soft, expanding golden light.



Then, at my dying hour,



I felt the gentle breeze



Of angels’ wings around me.



With strength I thought I did not have,



I moved my hand from under three blankets



And reached out



To hold



And be comforted by



What I believe--



Yes, what I believe



Was the glorious hand



Of God.



In the palm of His hand,



I felt your love and presence,



I saw your smiling face



And a photo album



Of all my happy times on Earth.



 



You thought you were not with me,



But I assure you



That at my dying hour,



I was with you.



 



Please do not let your heart grieve so;



Stop crying yourself to sleep each night.



 



I am with you always.



 



The other day,



When you felt,



In your gloved hand,



The snow-covered hydrangea,



I was there.



 



Of course,



Dearest daughter,



I am for the passage of the bill;



But you must come to terms with my passage



And be blessed



By understanding



I was not alone.



I believe



I was not alone:



Now, you,



My beloved daughter,



Must believe.



 



>From the snow-covered



Wings of love,



Your grateful mother



 



* * *



 



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