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Dear Donna

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Written January 6, 2025

for The Any Subject Poetry Contest of Regina Mcintosh

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Someone I used to know I saw today. It’s been ten years or more I saw her last although she didn’t live too far away from where I live, but time goes by so fast. How gracious this lady named Donna Kay - who occupies small spaces from my past; those short conversations I had with her are fragments that now have become a blur. There was with this acquaintance no real chat. I looked at pictures she had drawn instead. She’d painted! I’d nearly forgotten that. I also learned she loved the color red. Next to her red casket her eldest sat. For ten days now dear Donna has been dead. Though my whispered words fell on Donna’s shell, I hope her soul still heard my last farewell.

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Regina Mcintosh

Date: 1/24/2025 12:55:00 AM

Oh, this is such a heartfelt write. I so love it, so touching. God bless you my friend. Congrats and love you, Gina

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 1/21/2025 1:30:00 PM

A sad one! I’m certain she knows you were there. Funny how we find out more about people after they pass away! God’s mysteries reveal both good and bad. … I “also learned she loved the color red. Next to her red casket her eldest sat.” poignant. Congrats!

Crystol Woods

Date: 1/21/2025 1:20:00 PM

Oh Andrea! I hardy know how to communicate how this poem touched my heart. Powerfully provocative and moving. I was surprised by the revelation and it filled me with sorrow but also resolve... to call an old friend. Congratulations on your win here... very deserved! Xo

Janice Canerdy

Date: 1/20/2025 11:47:00 AM

Andrea, your moving, thoughtful poem really resonates with me~~since I have found myself in this same scene so many times! Janice

Duke Beaufort

Date: 1/13/2025 8:37:00 AM

Andrea, I like the progression of this poem and the way you lead up to Donna's death. This is wonderfully done and has a master poet's feel. Congrats on such a beautiful composition.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/13/2025 8:51:00 AM

Thank you. One of the few times I could put real life to poetry.

Paige Hind

Date: 1/8/2025 5:47:00 PM

What a lovely poem of remembrance. RIP. <3

Paul Callus

Date: 1/8/2025 12:05:00 PM

Sometimes it has to be death or some terrible accident that brings us close again to family members or acquaintances, and that is when memories come flooding back. You start the poem in a 'casual' way, till in the end it suddenly dawns on us that Donna has passed away...and that sure leaves an impact on the reader. ~ Regards // paul

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/8/2025 12:18:00 PM

thanks so much, Paul.

John Read

Date: 1/8/2025 5:00:00 AM

Hi Andrea, that was so sad God rest her soul. xx

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/8/2025 9:44:00 AM

thanks, John.

Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh

Date: 1/7/2025 8:34:00 PM

A nice tribute to a lost friend beautifully exploring your sadness in the poem.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/8/2025 10:23:00 AM

thank you

Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 1/7/2025 7:14:00 PM

Aw, Andrea, what a sweet tribute to Donna. I imagine she heard your last farewell. I have know people like this, they were just an acquaintance that we enjoyed and wish we could have more time with, and then they are gone from our lives either through busy life racing forward, or through passing into eternity. I believe we will see many of these friends in eternity, and maybe actually have waaaay more time to get better acquainted. I feel sad for her family, it must be so hard for her children.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/8/2025 10:25:00 AM

Yes, she was someone assigned to me by my church to "visit teach" It's a program to ensure that all the sisters of the church are doing ok, and you give them little lessons about God, etc. But usually we just gossipped a lot! Those were interesting days. I left my church many years ago and that's why I stopped seeing her. I was fortunate to even be told of her death or I would not have known it had happened.

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 1/7/2025 2:42:00 PM

So sad Andrea, your friend Donna will know that you cared and her soul will have heard your last farewell, and maybe will get to read your lovely poem too… Beryl

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 3:37:00 PM

Thanks, Beryl

Terrell Martin

Date: 1/7/2025 11:56:00 AM

Hi Andrea, I lost my best friend a few years ago who called and asked me to come visit just two days before his passing. I told him that I would but decided to put it off a few days and he died before I had the chance to say goodbye. It still haunts me, and I pray for his forgiveness. But we can't undo the past. What's done is done and love is stronger than regrets.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 12:44:00 PM

that would make me feel really sad too, Terrell. Donna was not a close friend to me. Nonetheless, she was my sister in a church I stopped attending, and I really should have dropped by at least to tell her hi. I had not even known she went into a nursing home three yaers ago. Knowing her trials, I think she has to be so happy to be released from her miseries.

Michael Tor

Date: 1/7/2025 10:32:00 AM

So sorry Dear Andrea for your loss. It is difficult to lose a friend and you shouldn't feel guilty by living so close and not seeing her. You are very busy taking care of your husband, your participation in your life in Poetry, your animals, dealing with family manners and dealing with your health challenges takes a tow and there is where the time flies. Please don't feel guilty but take it easy and smell the flowers sometimes. Your friend was fortunate to know you, you are a caring soul. Hugs

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 11:03:00 AM

One time before she went to the rest home (which I never knew of), I had passed her house thinking to drop in and say hi. I wish I had done that. It would have taken so little time.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 11:03:00 AM

Thanks,Michael.

Ink Empress

Date: 1/7/2025 10:09:00 AM

Dear sweet andrea, im so sorry for your loss, sigh, you are so good at writing about things, and experiences and this poem gives us an idea of things that your acquaintance donna liked too, may her soul rest in peace and love. Heartfelt and moving poem so well written. Best wishes if this is for a contest: sending you light always

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 11:02:00 AM

She had a hard life because of her husband and I found out she had been three years at a rest home. Her diabetes had gotten very bad. Poor thing. The good thing is that she has many children and grandchildren that came for her funeral. So she will be much missed by them.

Di11y Da11y

Date: 1/7/2025 6:42:00 AM

Andrea this is just beautiful and so heartfelt. I'm blown away by it, really brought a tear to my eye.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 12:46:00 PM

thanks so much, Dilly Dally. I don't think I'd ever seen a red coffin before, and I found it so interesting that her family decided to do that for her!

Di11y Da11y
Date: 1/7/2025 11:03:00 AM

I hadn't realised until I moved on into the poem. The past tense of loved the colour red made me think and then the next line revealed. You have expertly weaved in the emotion.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/7/2025 10:51:00 AM

thanks, Dilly Dally. I was going for a shock effect. Could you guess she had died from my first verse? it was a shock to me to learn of it since I no longer attend that church to know what's going on with the members there.