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A Poem

Absence makes the heart grow.....

read by Donna on behalf of the grandchildren

Absence makes the heart grow in many ways.

They say it makes the heart grow fonder.

This might be true when we leave a loved one for a short period of
time, for a holiday, a work trip or even a re-location.

The heart knows it will see that loved one again. It brims with joy
yearning for the day when it will be reunited with the loved ones at
last.

What happens to the heart when it feels loss, loss that feels
eternal? When we say a final goodbye knowing we will never get to
say hello again, does that make the heart grow fonder?

Not at the start, the heart is patient and does not see, it feels, the
heart remembers, has it’s own thoughts.

When we say goodbye knowing absence is absolute and we will
never say hello again. The heart smolders and searches your soul,
while your mind says, why her, why us? Will I see them again? Will
I ever get to say hello again? I didn’t even say goodbye.

No answer comes, the heart reels and draws breathe, but instead
of stoking the embers of uncertainty and loss, the heart
remembers, it remembers, pain and anger are quickly snuffed out.
And we ask ourselves; is there is a reason why we couldn’t say
goodbye, this time knowing there might not be a next time.

My heart tells me that our beloved Nan, Tot has left us here today,
only to be reunited with the hearts that have gone before her. And
while our hearts are filled with sorrow, my heart, our hearts will