Caren Krutsinger Poet Free verse

Christmas Mourning

All the houses on the block are decorated 
With Menorahs or Christmas lights, except one.
Jan pushes open the door and peeks at Jimmy’s 
Neon train set. He used to laugh so loudly
When Daddy had to get under the couch
To retrieve those trains!

Jim used to get irritated, when Jimmy let
Them go under the couch for fun, on purpose.
Closing her eyes, she can hear Jimmy’s hearty 3-year-old laugh.
Jim peeks in. What are you doing? He asks.
His voice is a whisper.

Telling tears are in her eyes. She cannot speak.
They go downstairs and sit on the couch,
Looking out at their neighbors' cheerfully lit houses.
Life is still happening for them.  Cancer has not ruined their lives.

It is Christmas, she whispers.
Not this year, he replies.
They huddle together in their grief,
Wishing things could have been different.
Neither caring about Mary’s Son, this year.

Written 11-17-2018            Contest:  Christmas Mourning
                                         Sponsor:  P.W. Awtry

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Kim Rodrigues December 4, 2018 at 9:23 PM Indeed a sad emotive write, Caren! Congrats on your win! Caren Krutsinger December 5, 2018 at 12:04 AM Thanks Kim. I am trying to think up ten poems right now at 12:03 a.m. Ha!

Sandra Haight December 4, 2018 at 7:44 PM So very touching, Caren. Your imagery of this loss was very powerful. Congratulations on your win. Hugs, Sandra Caren Krutsinger December 5, 2018 at 12:04 AM Thank you Sandra. I enjoyed the challenge.

Jan Allison December 4, 2018 at 3:02 PM such a touching poem Caren I have tears reading these emotional poems. Many congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx Caren Krutsinger December 5, 2018 at 12:05 AM Thanks Jan. I think this was a terrific prompt.

Wendy Watson December 4, 2018 at 2:11 AM Oh Caren. How did P.W manage to get through so many more of these poignant reads? Yours too has really moved me. Caren Krutsinger December 4, 2018 at 2:46 AM Thank you. I know a death is so much more horribly felt at Christmas by those who celebrate Christmas. The tree and the lights are a big reminder of someone whose laugh and delight are no longer there.

Curtis Moorman December 4, 2018 at 1:58 AM Caren, congratulations on your well deserved win. Caren Krutsinger December 4, 2018 at 2:46 AM Thank you. It was a tough write, as I could have gone in so many directions. Christmas is so sad for many people.

Janice Canerdy December 3, 2018 at 11:56 PM CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win! Janice

P.S. Awtry December 3, 2018 at 11:43 PM Caren, you painted such a tender compassionate picture. Congratulations on placing in this contest :)

CayCay Godwin November 23, 2018 at 11:11 PM Where the kleenex that should be mandatory with this poem? Thank you for punching my heart in such a good poetic way. All the best ... CayCay Caren Krutsinger November 24, 2018 at 6:46 AM Thank you CayCay. I like to throw in a surprisingly sad poem at Christmas time, as between Thanksgiving and New Years is the saddest time of the year for families when their loved ones pass on to the other world.

Anne-Lise Andresen November 21, 2018 at 12:30 AM - A sad picture of miss and sorrow at Christmas, Caren - A touching writing - Best wishes in the contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Caren Krutsinger November 21, 2018 at 6:13 AM Thank you Sunshine; I do not take the contests very seriously as how can you rank Donuts against Mack Trucks? I think ALL the poems I receive should place in every contest, because they are ALL good. I do the contests though, because it inspires people to try something new, and that is why I enter them too.

Rhona Mcferran November 19, 2018 at 9:34 AM I got a little chill reading this. Something about the contrast of the whole neighborhood celebrating something, except that one house- silent with grief... a very poignant picture. I think anyone who has lost a family member around this time will really "feel" this poem. Rhona Mcferran November 19, 2018 at 10:25 AM I've lost multiple loved ones around the holiday season... but I can't imagine losing that many on the same day! Caren Krutsinger November 19, 2018 at 10:19 AM Thank you Rhona. Sometimes you lose more than one family member, in our family we lost five on one day to a heinous crime. Christmas was saddest of the sad that year.

Wren Rushing November 18, 2018 at 9:35 AM When you lose a child a part of you is buried with them. The holidays are always tough. Caren you have captured this feeling of grief with your story. Good luck with the contest. Caren Krutsinger November 18, 2018 at 11:28 AM Thank you Wren. I have several friends who have lost children, and relatives too. It is indescribable.

Tom Cunningham November 18, 2018 at 3:14 AM Well written Caren but away from the tinsel and glitter many suffer unspeakable heart ache and Christmas is always an emotional time. Good luck. Tom. Caren Krutsinger November 18, 2018 at 9:01 AM It surely is Tom. Thanks for the stop by.

Line Gauthier November 17, 2018 at 11:56 PM Very touching, Caren. Well penned. Bravo. Caren Krutsinger November 18, 2018 at 12:02 AM Thank you Line. I thought maybe it was too much, but death of a child is so so hard every day, but for some reason, it seems worse on Christmas Day.