“Life Goes On”
“Life Goes On”
*
That’s what Dad always said,
Remember, Tony?
My dear swarthy brother,
dark of skin,
warm of heart,
we shared the same hazel eyes,
a mix of Mom’s Sicilian brown
and Dad’s brilliant blue.
We lived separate lives,
you in Michigan,
me in New York,
you with three adopted children,
me, childless with Ko-ko and Tom.
You weren’t supposed to DIE!
You and I were to be
fellow way-farers
on the road through life.
We were to live parallel lives
and you were supposed to die
when you were old and feeble,
not middle-aged,
in a tortured death!
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
*
“Life goes on.”
*
Today I light a candle
on my altar to you and Mom and Dad
and send you Reiki
like I did while you fought for your life
for two years
after a prognosis of two months.
My heart aches
on this second anniversary
of your death.
*
“Life goes on.”
*
Your wife, your children, and I
cry out for you
but you have moved on to some higher form.
You paid your karmic dues,
with your diagnosis, cancer.
Long before,
you always told me
not to worry,
that you’d live long because
only the good die young.
But you were too good
and you died far too young
and I live on in my little, reclusive life,
Ko-ko no longer here,
just me and Tom.
I should have been the one to go
but the good die young.
*
“And life goes on.”
MOONSIDE 
Nostalgic and touching memoir. Life goes on….true words!
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June 17, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Thank you, Arjun! For some reason, I think you may be a bit like my brother. He lived hard. I fear you do, too. That is the older sister in me talking. Sorry.
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June 17, 2013 at 6:07 PM
{{{Hugs}}} Heart with yours, Ellen. xx
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June 17, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Oh, thank you so much, Running Elk. Sure is appreciated!!
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June 17, 2013 at 6:08 PM
A heart full of sadness and love for you. God be with you Ellen
Yisraela
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June 17, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Thank you, Yisraela, for all your love. God be with YOU, too! xx ellen
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June 17, 2013 at 6:09 PM
no pain such as loss
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June 17, 2013 at 4:54 PM
It’s the worst! Thanks for reading and commenting, Paul!
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June 17, 2013 at 6:10 PM
I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother.
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June 17, 2013 at 8:26 PM
Thank you, Caddo!
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June 17, 2013 at 8:53 PM
It’s so hard to lose loved ones. Condolences.
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June 21, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Thanks so much, Genie! xx ellen
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June 21, 2013 at 2:19 PM