I hear a wail

[JoelJosol]

I hear from the distance a wail,
Abraham weeping for his wife Sarah,
the woman who journeyed with him
to the unknown, to a promise for a child.

I hear from the distance a wail,
Jacob missing Rachel
who gave him both love and children,
his beloved, well into his years.

I hear from the distance a wail,
of David grieving for a prince, a friend, Jonathan,
who stood by him, without rancor, 
giving way to a new king, God's choice.

I hear my own wail from my heart
for a friend whose limit to serve, 
death has cut short, claimed, 
a beautiful friend of God.

(NOTE: A good friend of mine from my youth was claimed by breast cancer today. This just came out spontaneously as my outlet for my grief.)

[dcmarti1]

Grief. This is a perfect example of Frost's admonition of "grief, not grievances". Tender, haunting. AND fierce.

[JoelJosol]

Thank you for picking up the tone and emotions of the piece, dcmarti.

[David W. Parsley]

Marti stole and bettered all my best observations.  Joel, what a way to remaster a universal bereavement in the roots of a deep and sacred culture.

Devastating,
- David

[JoelJosol]

Thanks David. I realize that when I am driven by a specific emotion, the poem comes out naturally, and I hear it from deep inside. I just needed to jot it down before it goes away somewhere else.