it’s a sore feeling
in a life lived
when you have seen your kin
suffer and die slowly
one by one
fogged by the killers of pain
and you have perhaps distanced yourself
from it, at the bitter end
because of the shame of helplessness
not knowing what to say
what to do
how to support others
what you will do
when your Mom, Dad, brother, sister, spouse, child
is gone
this clumsy desperation
this unworthiness
then you feel your own time coming
sore of mind and body
you make the hard choices
feel your pain, ride with your pain
or let them put you into the fog too
the chemical death of the spirit
You begin to see the cycle come full circle
others, even close ones, want to look away
denial in their eyes
you do not want them to feel
that helplessness, desperation, unworthiness
you love them, and do not want them to feel
the way you once felt
you say go home
go home to your families
do not stay here
go home with my blessing
and, let me go home too.
Aremyfeetofftheground 
This poem touches the soul. Thanks for writing and sharing. It makes it one think and feel.
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Dear Lee dont be so hard on yourself. We all do the best we can at the time.. that said just to acknowledge this is a big step, we dont always make the best choices or respond as well as we would have wished.. life is so tough and aging is sad in mant ways especially as losses mount up. Hugs xo
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Oh my gosh, Lee… I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. Your poetry was so undeniably solemn and so well written.
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Thank you, Beckie. It is a metaphor for events in my life, and of things said and felt at the worst moments.
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So, unbelievably sad… I thought of my grandparents as I read it. Rendered emotions of that time.
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So sorry. Perhaps I should not have posted it.
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No, no… This is what poets do… Don’t ever change that. The writing was compelling and amazing at that.
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