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Grief Never Leaves You

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Written on 28th April 2025

For Write Fourteen Beautiful Lines Poetry Contest.

Sponsored By Constance La France.

Grief never leaves you; memories keep loved ones close to your heart . Quote by poet. John and his young wife Maria had been apart for a year now, but every week he'd drive across town just to speak with her. On the passenger seat was a white rose, Maria’s favourite flower.  Their garden was adorned with them; they resembled a carpet of snow, and in a gentle breeze in summertime you could smell their sweet scent. He passed the sandy beach and remembered the walks they used to do, and the time when he got down on his knee and asked her to marry him. She answered straight away, and tears of joy streamed down her face. He'd always tear up when he remembered when she said "Yes, yes, yes". That was three years ago but now it seemed like it was only yesterday.  They'd often talk of starting a family and were in the process of moving to a bigger house, but sadly it wasn't to be, and John decided to stay.  He slowed down and drove down the fir tree lined avenue and parked up.  Then he got out and picking up the rose placed it carefully on her headstone.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 5/28/2025 8:24:00 AM
Tom Tom the Pipers son, my grand daughter loves this poem and at 2 and a half knows it off by heart and I always say to her that it reminds me of a fellow poet and friend on poetry soup, which she doesn't understand but she loves the nursery rhyme. Congrats on your first win my friend. A sad well written short story about grief. Hugs and blessings. Jennifer.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/28/2025 12:49:00 PM
Thank you Jennifer, she's one clever granddaughter, she takes after you. Sadly for some it's a reality and losing a partner and soulmate is devastating. Tom
Date: 5/6/2025 8:49:00 AM
The master story teller strikes again. A sweet tale well-told Tom. Congratulations! :)
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/6/2025 9:36:00 AM
Thank you very much Linda, I'm happy you enjoyed it.. Hope your week is going well.. Tom
Date: 5/4/2025 9:19:00 PM
So very sad, that their love couldn't fruition. Fate had its upper hand... over their plans and dreams. Now memories are his only companion. Congratulations, Tom on your well deserved first place win.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/4/2025 9:38:00 PM
Thank you very much Valsa, we have to try and live life day by day because tragedy can strike us at any time. Enjoy your week ahead. Tom
Date: 5/4/2025 11:35:00 AM
Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Grief Never Leaves You" write/quote. Great Picture... So true, Grief never leaves but Great memories are great have. Have a blessed day with your win.......
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/4/2025 12:27:00 PM
Thank you very much Paula, the pain might ease but the memories stay with you forever. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom
Date: 5/4/2025 3:52:00 AM
Tom, a wonderfully penned emotive poem. You depicted grief so well in your poem. Congratulations on your first place win.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/4/2025 4:19:00 AM
Thank you very much Tania, grief is one of the hardest things to deal with in our lives. Hope your weekend is going well. Tom
Date: 5/3/2025 9:21:00 AM
Hi, Tom :) - Congratulations on your fourteen beautiful lines in the contest :) - Have a lovely weekend :) - hugs
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/3/2025 10:03:00 AM
Thank you very much for your congrats and return visit Anne Lise. Hope you have a lovely weekend too. Tom
Date: 5/2/2025 7:13:00 PM
A sad loss, very beautiful
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2025 9:08:00 PM
Thank you very much Paige, tragedy can creep up on us unexpectedly, we never know what is around the corner.. Have a lovely weekend. Tom
Date: 5/2/2025 12:56:00 PM
That's so poignant Tom. We never forget our loved ones but time helps us to cope. Cheers - Gary
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/2/2025 1:11:00 PM
Thank you very much Gary, it does ease over time but you're right we never forget them. Enjoy your weekend. Tom
Date: 4/30/2025 10:51:00 AM
Powerful and sad Tom. But also John's devotion to Maria is wonderful. Even death could not separate his love for her.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/30/2025 12:11:00 PM
Thank you very much Oliver, the death of a partner of any age is devastating for the one left behind. Grief never leaves you. Tom
Date: 4/30/2025 10:43:00 AM
Tom, Although the image gave away the ending, I still had tears in my eyes as I read the poem. I also read all the comments. We know life is short and can end in a moment. We also know there are other forms of loss that we might mourn. Losing a job after a decade or two can evoke grief too. Life is such a mixed blessing. I don't think we can insulate ourselves from the sadness we feel as things end. That is why (and I know you know this) we need to relish the moment. My wife and I are so very fortunate to be together and we both thank our lucky stars every day!!! Thanks for what you do here. Hopefully, the people who read your work will feel a bit better about their own lives and savor what they have while they have it.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/30/2025 12:24:00 PM
Thank you very much Duke, you're so right, relish every moment, we just don't know what is around the corner, I'm grateful for every day and for what I have, I try and live life to the full because everything could change in the blink of an eye. Hope you're keeping well. Tom
Date: 4/30/2025 7:32:00 AM
Tom, this is SO moving and beautiful!! Janice
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/30/2025 8:56:00 AM
Thank you very much Janice, Tom
Date: 4/29/2025 7:15:00 PM
Your poetic expression touches us Tom! I just know a poet with a heart as big as yours will be a winner, as you already are! Pangie
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/29/2025 9:24:00 PM
Thank you very much Pangie, I know we all love happy endings but sometimes our lives are struck by tragedy and we are left heartbroken unable to move on. Tom
Date: 4/29/2025 4:20:00 PM
A sad story. And gosh. Only 3 years!!
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/29/2025 9:12:00 PM
Thank you very much Andrea, although it's a fictional write tragedy can strike at any time in our lives, life can be cruel at times. Tom
Date: 4/29/2025 6:47:00 AM
Beautifully written. True that grief never leaves. Great poem Tom. I hope you have a nice day :)
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/29/2025 6:54:00 AM
Thank you very much Beryl they say time is a great healer but grief stays with you forever. Hope you too have a lovely day. Tom
Date: 4/29/2025 4:22:00 AM
I told my dad one day, “every day is yesterday.” time freezes when those closest to us pass away. It is hardest on a spouse. The image and scent of the white flowers is conveyed; and the touching moment when John lays one of the bounty on her grave.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/29/2025 5:25:00 AM
Thank you very much Kim, grief is often hard to deal with and everyone is different. Sounds and smells bring back memories of loved ones who have passed away. We never forget them. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 5:53:00 PM
Yikes. They were barely married 'for a cup of coffee,' as we baseball fans say here in the states...
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 8:19:00 PM
Thank you Gershon, life can certainly be cruel at times, we never know what's around the corner. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 5:33:00 PM
Hi Tom, so beauteous in its sorrow. A very moving and eloquent poem. My late husband passed away unexpectedly five years ago. We all miss him so much. Your sweet poem was a gentle reminder that brought back fond memories. My very best wishes for the contest.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 8:18:00 PM
Thank you very much Regina, I'm sorry for your loss, it's the happy memories we have of them that keeps them close to our heart. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 4:12:00 PM
a touching and heartbreaking poem, tom! best of luck in the contest...
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 8:16:00 PM
Thank you very much Ilene, sadly tragedy can strike at any time. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 2:15:00 PM
The love lost through death is the cause for mourning and grief but when a love dies, it's also a death... albeit of another kind. Both tragic. Your writing of this man's loss is sympathetically emotional, Tom.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 8:15:00 PM
Thank you very much Lin, you're right about another death, the one left behind has also died unable to move on and loses the will to live. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 5:49:00 AM
Death is so final, yet not easy to forget. Lilian, my wife passed eight years ago. Yet never forgotten. A very lovely poem. Best for a win.
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 6:04:00 AM
Thank you very much Victor, I know you miss her terribly and grief never really goes away, she'll always be in your heart. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 4:18:00 AM
Dear Tom, Another one your very soulfully moving and touching poems, and i agree also with your quote, grief never leaves and comes in waves, hitting us with waves of nostalgia, and this poem shows so much through imagery and descriptive writing and the ending is so touching! I felt this so deeply. How sometimes little things can bring back memories too! I especially loved "He passed the sandy beach and remembered the//and the time when he got down on his knee and asked her to marry him." Made me tear up! Very well written! And presented too! Best wishes! Sending you light always
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 4:26:00 AM
Thank you very much IE. I've read about similar stories that have been like that and they are heartbreaking especially when couples are so young, I agree, sights and sounds of a favourite song brings back memories of happier times. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 2:09:00 AM
WOW Tom what a beautiful and sad poem....lovely my friend! Debx
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 2:14:00 AM
Thank you very much Deb, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Enjoy your week ahead. Tom
Date: 4/28/2025 2:05:00 AM
- A beautiful and moving poem, Tom - Best wishes in the contest :) - Have a lovely new spring week ... raining all week here ... foggy and grey outside my window - hugs :) - hugs
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 4/28/2025 2:09:00 AM
Thank you very much Anne Lise, oh no, plenty of sunshine and blue sky here, I'll send some over. Tom

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