For Hal on His Birthday

If you are a close friend of mine you know that I lost my husband on May 2. He passed away from heart failure. His heart just stopped. For those of you following my blog this year you know too that he had pneumonia six times in four months and he kept getting weaker. The doctors did all they could to save him, but he wasn't able to rally. I have been in mourning all this time and I would not be posting now if not for the fact that today was his birthday and it was my usual custom to write him a birthday poem. So here it is:

Birthday Cake in Heaven - For Hal on what would have been his birthday

Today was your birthday

and you were not here to

celebrate

though if you had been here

you would probably have said

no I don’t want cake for you

were not one for birthdays

It was always I who splurged

and went big on birthdays

decorating your chair and 

having a birthday morning

with presents and soft kisses

with your favorite breakfast

food in front of you

and as you ate your eggs

and read your cards we waited

for your smile for that was our

goal when we were around you

That smile healed all and we 

cherished it when it came

and at night the usual cake 

with the Happy Birthday words

and again your smile as you

accepted a piece and we knew

although you protested your

smile showed how much it

mattered to you

Now I wonder, are you having

birthday cake in heaven?

Are you making friends or

did you meet your parents

and is your mother smiling at

you as you shovel in the last

bite of cake?

copyright 2014 by Barbara Ehrentreu

I want to thank anyone who posted anything to help me get through those horrible first days. Specifically, Pearl Ketover Prilik who started a page called Virtual Shiva for Harold Ehrentreu. There I found beautiful photos of food and places and poems and words of sympathy. People came and virtually sat with me and held my hand over the internet. There are no words to express how comforting this was. I met some new people who were generous and sweet. 

There is a deep hole of sadness inside me and I imagine it will remain there for a long time, but I am starting to get back into the world again. My husband wanted us to start living life as soon as possible. He was a confirmed atheist and didn't believe in organized religion at all. He lived life on his own terms and we hope to bring his ashes to the sea when the weather permits. 

I don't know when I will post again, but until the next time, I hope you are all enjoying the spring weather.