Tuesday, November 28, 2017

REMEMBRANCE

When my kids were ten and twelve, they had their first real loss to the great beyond. He was not even our cat, but the neighbor’s. But he thought he lived with us, and for as long as he lived, DD was adamant that we take in no other lest he stopped feeling at home. 

When Chester died, there was a period of profound mourning. The neighbors were even kind enough to invite us over for a remembrance, and shared some of his ashes with us. DD erected a memorial where she placed the ashes, and it’s still there today.

What stayed with me was something she said. “I’m so scared I will forget him.”

If we remember, they are not completely gone.


Today is a special day at my house. I remember three of the closest people to me who passed away on the same calendar day. They are gone from the blessings and tribulations of this world, but not forgotten. 



מילים: פניה ברגשטיין
לחן:
דוד זהבי
שנת כתיבה: 1944

נִגּוּנִים / פניה ברגשטיין, 1944


שְׁתַלְתֶּם נִגּוּנִים בִּי, אִמִּי וְאָבִי,
נִגּוּנִים מִזְמוֹרִים שְׁכוּחִים.
גַּרְעִינִים; גַּרְעִינִים נְשָׂאָם לְבָבִי –
עַתָּה הֵם עוֹלִים וְצוֹמְחִים.

עַתָּה הֵם שׁוֹלְחִים פֹּארוֹת בְּדָמִי,
שָׁרְשֵׁיהֶם בְּעוֹרְקַי שְׁלוּבִים,
נִגּוּנֶיךָ, אָבִי, וְשִׁירַיִךְ אִמִּי,
בְּדָפְקִי נֵעוֹרִים וְשָׁבִים.

הִנֵּה אַאֲזִין שִׁיר עַרְשִׂי הָרָחוֹק
הִבִּיעַ פִּי אֵם אֱלֵי בַּת.
הִנֵּה לִי תִּזְהַרְנָה בְּדֶמַע וּשְׂחוֹק
"אֵיכָה" וּזְמִירוֹת שֶׁל שַׁבָּת.

כָּל הֶגֶה יִתַּם וְכָל צְלִיל יֵאָלֵם
בִּי קוֹלְכֶם הָרָחוֹק כִּי יֵהוֹם.
עֵינַי אֶעֱצֹם וַהֲרֵינִי אִתְּכֶם
מֵעַל לְחֶשְׁכַת הַתְּהוֹם.


You can hear it sung in this link:

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful poem!

Vijaya said...

Oh Mirka, I just know the poem is beautiful even though I cannot read it. May your dearly departed rest in peace.

Janie Junebug said...

Three special people on the same date! You are a dear to honor them.

Love,
Janie

Evelyn said...

Hugs to you, dearest Mirka. I've been thinking of you today on this special remembering time for you, even before I saw the notice of your blog post and came here. Memory is indeed a way of staying close to those we love who are no longer physically with us.

Anonymous said...

Your daughter was wise beyond her years to realize there might be a time when she couldn't remember her beloved cat. Thoughts are with you, Mirka.

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

I couldn't read the poem, but belated condolences for your three losses. You are right, though: "If we remember, they are not completely gone." Lately I've been remembering losses of my own and giving thanks for their roles in my life.

Kelly Hashway said...

On the same day? Wow. Though maybe there's something to be said about that. It was recently the anniversary of my grandfather's passing, which was especially difficult for me since I talked to him every day. It's never easy to lose a loved one.

Barbara Etlin said...

Lots of hugs, Mirka. You're so right; as long as we remember them, they're not gone.