Return To Sender
If you could send a letter to Heaven and have it be delivered, without being returned to sender, what would it say?
Greetings!
On December 1st, I decided to try and write a poem each day. It technically did not happen. Although I did think of a poem each day, just never wrote it down because I tend to do my best poetry writing in the car and then I get home and I don’t write it down. Does anyone have that problem? Coming up with ideas in the car?
On December 11th, I thought of a poem and GASP, I wrote it down later. It was about my grandparents and one quality of theirs that I remember and hope to have one day. The next day, I listened to a NPR segment about loneliness. It was an interesting segment. It talked about how we are living in a loneliness epidemic and although it is something that we will all experience at least once in our lifetimes, a persisted experience may cause a negative impact on our health like in terms of a cardiovascular disease or dementia. NPR cited the lead author that people should see loneliness as any other health problem that can be treated and prevented. One way to treat and to prevent is to cultivate human connection and to seek out others like support groups, book clubs, checking in on friends, and maybe writing a poem to dead people.
Okay, so maybe you’re thinking “writing a poem to dead people” sounds lonely and sad. To me, it doesn’t. It is how I get my emotions out and in a way, it brings me closer to them. It reminds me of being in high school, sitting in a Mexican restaurant, as my dad passes a poem to my grandma (and think, Wait, Dad read it? I didn’t show Dad. I only showed it to Mom). Or, posting on Facebook with Grandmother commenting, Grandpa and I are proud of you. It reminds me of last summer, I shared a poem at my local library’s Open Mic and an older woman came up to me and asked if I was going to share another one. Through my poetry, I connected to a woman and she was probably somewhere between my mother and my grandmother’s age. And yet, we connected.
But enough about me. Let’s actually read what I wrote.
Title: Hi, Grandparents Hi, Grandma, I hope you're in that celestial library I remember how your eyes shine Glistening at the beauty of this world. How your eyes clouded, Mirroring the dark injustices. I hope my eyes see the truth and lies Hi, Granddad, I hope you're picking up pecans in that heavenly garden I remember the intonations of your voice, Gentleness roll off whether you teach or rebuke. I hope my voice speaks wisdom in it Hi, Grandpa, I hope you're making friends, maybe sitting on angels' council meetings as the lone human I remember your strength Your resilience knew no bounds, You were dealt a hard hand and made something worthwhile I hope my strength carries resiliency Hi, Grandmother, I hope you're making ornaments (Heaven needs one more, I hear) I remember your heart How it warmed at kindness being shared How it broke when someone (a person or animal) was in need. I hope my heart aches for the hurt and broken Because if so, Maybe Heaven isn't too far away.
I like to believe that this letter won’t be “return to sender,” but in case, there’s any confusion here’s some photos of the addressees. Friends, I hope this post made you think of loneliness in a different light and that you do something to ease any worries/sadness/loneliness that you are feeling.
I have/had 4 wonderful grandparents. I look forward to the day when we are reunited. I have a lot to say. They better be waiting for me. Also, could they bring a certain German Shepherd and a certain orange tabby with them?
This was such a beautiful article and poem. I enjoyed reading how you connected who they are to what they could be doing in heaven and how you desire those same qualities they displayed. I’ve written to my grandma who has passed before. :) multiple times.
I love this. Wonderful memories