Home » Poems » Gregory Richard Barden » Christmas Mourning

Gregory Richard Barden | + Follow Poet |

Christmas Mourning

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Gregory Richard Barden.

Related image

There it lies, forlorn and tragic, Christmas, mourning for its magic, Awaiting on an angel, fair To tumble, giggling, down the stair, Bouncing curls of platinum hair ... (Now as cold as Christmas snow) Oh, where did my Sweet Angel go? There it lies. robbed of its mirth, Christmas, placed deep in the earth, A chubby cherub, once its joy, Broken, like her favorite toy, First kiss lost for "someday's" boy ... (Covered now, in Christmas snow) Oh, where did my Sweet Angel go? There it stands, atop my tree, A Christmas angel, just as she, Dressed in pretty peacock plume, Shining bright to bless the room, Now, a stark and empty tomb ... (Soft and white as Christmas snow) Oh, where did my Sweet Angel go? There it lies with my bleak heart, Christmas' spirit, ripped apart, This same morning, years now gone, Her little body, still and wan, 'Neath the tree to wait the dawn ... (Hushed and cold as Christmas snow) Oh, where did my Sweet Angel go? Please tell her, God, so she will know ... This mommy ... LOVES her Angel so. ~ 7th Place ~ in the "The Darker Side Of Christmas" Poetry Contest, Richard Lamoureux, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Writing Challenge, December 2019, I Want Christmas Poems" Poetry Contest, Dear Heart - Wishkobi Ode, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Christmas Mourning" Poetry Contest, P.S. Awtry, Judge & Sponsor.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Sam Kauffman

Date: 12/23/2019 11:21:00 AM

Greg, Congratulations on your winning placement that expresses the questions we have when we are trying to understand what is beyond our understanding.

Tania Kitchin

Date: 12/23/2019 4:34:00 AM

Greg, congratulations on your winning placement with your beautifully penned sad poem!

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 12/22/2019 7:23:00 PM

On reading this one again, I feel I should have given it a higher placement. Thanks for entering my contest. Merry Christmas.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/22/2019 7:40:00 PM

No worries, Richard - it happened to another poem of mine yesterday, too. Thank you for my placement. Merry Christmas! :o)

Constance La France

Date: 12/15/2019 5:02:00 AM

Greg, congratulations on your win in my Christmas writing challenge with this beautifully penned poem, so emotional and well done, the sadness just drips from each word and I really liked your layout and presentation !

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/19/2019 2:43:00 AM

Thank you SO so much, Constance, I put a lot of emotion into this one, and it is special to me for many reasons ... I'm very pleased that it touched your spirit and that you found it worthy of such placement. Blessings! <3

Na Na

Date: 12/14/2019 2:00:00 AM

Congrats on your winning poem Greg

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/19/2019 2:41:00 AM

Thank you so much, Gregory!

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 12/14/2019 1:18:00 AM

This choked me up Greg. I feel so blessed to have never suffered the loss of a child or grandchild. It would make Christmas unbearable. So sad but beautifully written. Congratulations on your deserving First Placement! : ) Mele Kalikimaka! xxoo

Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 12/26/2018 2:37:00 PM

So tragically beautiful! Such grief and pain, I can't begin to understand the depth of despair felt with the loss of a child. At this time of year, more so, if that is possible. My heart reaches out. Beautifully written, deep emotion.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/31/2019 11:50:00 AM

Thank you so much, Sandra, I so appreciate the kind words. So many people have to go through similar, and we take the holidays for granted, while it can be a torturous time for some. Blessings, my friend. <3

Vijay Pandit

Date: 12/20/2018 3:00:00 PM

Very articulate write my friend...this sad story touched me deeply. Your words always shine on poetry soup..in every form. Splendidly done, Greg. Congrats!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/22/2018 7:03:00 PM

You are so kind to me, Vijay, and I greatly appreciate that kindness and the class and beauty with which you write everything, especially these wonderful comments. Blessings to you, My Friend! :-)

Robert Lindley

Date: 12/16/2018 11:10:00 AM

You my great friend have written such a sad and tragic loss in verse. One that speaks so well and true about the greatest of epic sorrows-the lost of a child. Having myself experienced that twice myself decades ago this creation shows the depths of sadness such tragedy brings.. A fav my friend, as your fine poem speaks to we that know firsthand of this horrific agonizing, unforgettable and epic pain.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 12:36:00 PM

Many kind thanks to you, Robert, you are such a sweet and thoughtful friend, and I so appreciate your wonderful and heartfelt sentiments. I am SO sorry that you have had such tragedy in your life, but as I said to Carolyn, even though it's painful, I think it's important to remember, and keep these people in our hearts and minds. Thanks and blessings to you, Dear Friend. <3

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 12/15/2018 1:49:00 PM

Your powerful refrain makes the poem even more heartbreaking, Greg. Losing a child has to be the saddest thing a parent can experience, but when the loss coincides with Christmas, it must be unbearable. Congratulations on your well-earned win! (One of the first poems I ever read by Joyce Johnson was about a Christmas tree angel that reminded her of her late granddaughter. I have never forgotten it and won't forget yours.) Best wishes, Carolyn

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 12:34:00 PM

That's such a sweet and thoughtful comment, Carolyn, and it means a great deal to me ... I'm so happy that my poem touched your heart, and every time we remember these (very) sad things, we're keeping thge memories of those little ones alive, so while painful, I believe it's a good thing. Blessings and thanks, Dear Poet. <3

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 12/14/2018 11:20:00 PM

This poem was so moving it had me reaching for tissue Greg. I know a poet who lost her little three year old and she wrote the most moving poem I have ever read. Your poem reminds me of hers. It is just a treasure! : ) xxoo

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 11:28:00 AM

That's very sweet of you, Connie, and I greatly appreciate your wonderful comment and sentiments. There is nothing I can imagine worse than losing a child, and so many people have, (including a close friend of mine, who this is about). The best we can do is never take loved ones for granted, and treasure every moment. Blessings, Dear Friend. <3

Marie Pearl Rojas

Date: 12/13/2018 10:15:00 PM

Oh my goodness, I couldn't control my tears especially while reading the refrain, "Oh where did my sweet angel go?" It is so moving. Thanks for sharing this very beautiful poem.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/16/2018 11:26:00 AM

You are so kind, Marie, and I so greatly appreciate this wonderful comment ... I'm pleased that you liked my poem, and that it touched your heart. Blessings. <3

Phillip Garcia

Date: 12/9/2018 2:34:00 AM

A beautiful poem, Gregory, when I first read it a week or so back I fully expected it to finish first, and in my book it should have - just a lovely (mournful) journey eloquently composed.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/9/2018 3:11:00 AM

This is such a kind comment, Phillip, and it means a great deal to me ... not a happy story, bt an important one, I believe, for the memories of all lives that end in tragedy, (especially little ones and at this time of year) ... the holidays become painful reminders for so many, and I think we often take that for granted. Thank you so much, my poet brother ... your comment is my first prize. ;-)

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 12/4/2018 9:36:00 PM

Back for congrats on your second place win, Greg!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/5/2018 12:30:00 AM

That's very sweet of you, Kim, thanks so much. <3

Sandra Haight

Date: 12/4/2018 7:28:00 PM

Oh, such a heartbreaking, sad poem, Greg, so well-written and emotionally expressed, and which deeply tugged at my heart, especially with the repeated refrain. Congratulations on your well-deserved podium win. I must put it into my faves. Wishing you a blessed Christmas Season. Sandra <3

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/5/2018 12:28:00 AM

Many kind thanks to you, Sandra, that's so nice of you ... these are hard to write, but I think it's important to share tragedy, as God puts us on this earth to tend to one-another, and approach difficult subjects with tenderness and care. This was not my experience, but rather a friend's, and they want this story to be known, so others don't take loved ones for granted, especially this time of year. Blessings to you, My Friend. <3

Jan Allison

Date: 12/4/2018 2:54:00 PM

got a huge lump in my throat reading your touching poem Greg - hits home hard losing a child as my son's friend's (brothers) died 4 years ago this week we've at the weekend there was a fund raiser for Parkinson's in their memory and i read one of my poems, truly heartbreaking at any time but a Christmas it makes it even harder to bear:-( hugs Jan xx

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/5/2018 12:26:00 AM

It does, indeed, Jan, and reminds us to not take those seemingly "little" things for granted, like being able to have our loved ones alive, whether we can be with them at holidays or not. I'm so sorry for your friend's loss - I will put them in my prayers. Blessings to you, Friend. <3

Wendy Watson

Date: 12/4/2018 2:00:00 AM

The second 'lump in the throat read' this morning, Greg. As I said to Philip, we can't be sure when we are reading fiction or true experience but the poignant message and your poetic expression of this tragic scenario will move many hearts. Best wishes Wendy

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/5/2018 12:23:00 AM

That's very kind of you, Wendy, and I thank you so much. This was not my experience, but the daughter of some old friends, and sadly true. I asked them first if it was ok to write about, and they agreed, as they feel it should be shared, if no other reason than to help others appreciate what they have, and not take such things for granted. Blessings to you, my friend. <3

Curtis Moorman

Date: 12/4/2018 1:56:00 AM

Greg, we have shared some areas of our life on Soup Mail. I can only envision the sorrow you feel. Nonetheless, your poem is wonderfully penned as are all your writes. Congratulations on your win.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/5/2018 12:20:00 AM

Oh, thank you so much, My Poet Brother ... this was not about a child of mine, but rather the daughter of an old friend. They don't really know if she was watching for Santa or just waiting for sunrise, (as they had told her that's when she could wake them to open presents), but she had been electrocuted while playing with the light cord that went to the tree. Needless to say, they have trouble celebrating Christmas every year, but do so for the sake of her memory, as it was her favorite thing. Blessings, Curtis, and a happy holiday to you and yours.

Janice Canerdy

Date: 12/3/2018 11:50:00 PM

CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved win! ?? Janice

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/4/2018 1:32:00 AM

Thank you so very much, Janice, much appreciated! (I apologize, but I don't know what the question marks mean?)

Eve Roper

Date: 12/3/2018 11:35:00 PM

Marvelous write , Greg, I enjoyed reading your beautiful write. Congratulations on your win.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/4/2018 1:26:00 AM

That's very sweet of you, Eve, I thank you so much, my friend. <3

P.S. Awtry

Date: 12/3/2018 11:19:00 PM

Mr. Barden, this poem is gorgeous! Thank you for writing it and entering my contest. Congratulations on your silver medal finish!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/4/2018 1:25:00 AM

Thank you so very kindly, PS, I am humbled to be on a list with such wonderful poets, and honored that you placed my poem so highly! Blessings to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season, and peace and comfort to all those who have to deal with grief this time of year.

Deb Radke

Date: 12/2/2018 2:57:00 PM

How beautiful this is. The grief shines through as well as the joy of Christmas past. Your poem is a wonderful depiction of mourning. Well done, Gregory. Best wishes. Deb

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 12/4/2018 1:23:00 AM

Thank you so very much, Deb, that's very kind of you, and I'm so pleased you liked my poem. Blessings to you, my friend! <3

Paul Callus

Date: 11/29/2018 6:39:00 AM

Creative, beautiful and pulls at our heartstrings, Gregory. I expect to see it high on the winners' list. Regards // paul

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/30/2018 12:04:00 AM

That's very kind of you, Paul, and I thank you very much, my friend! :-)

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 11/27/2018 8:27:00 AM

So beautiful...so sad. Makes me think of a the little five year old I knew, laid out in a pink satin coffin. How her family aches. Hope in heaven. I know we will find this one at the top, my friend. Be blessed!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/30/2018 12:04:00 AM

Thank you so very much, Kim, this is very special to me, so I'm extra thankful you found it touched your heart. Blessings! :-) <3

Bobby May

Date: 11/27/2018 6:18:00 AM

That touched my heart very much that is a very moving poem!!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/30/2018 12:03:00 AM

Thank you so very much, Bobby - blessings! :-)