I wept when I read this poem

This first person I thought about sharing this poem with was my son, Jack. He wrote so many poems and songs. I've spent much of the past few weeks picking up the phone to text message or call him.

Perfection Wasted

And another regrettable thing about death
is the ceasing of your own brand of magic,
which took a whole life to develop and market -
the quips, the witticisms, the slant
adjusted to a few, those loved ones nearest
the lip of the stage, their soft faces blanched
in the footlight glow, their laughter close to tears,
their warm pooled breath in and out with your heartbeat,
their response and your performance twinned.
The jokes over the phone. The memories packed
in the rapid-access file. The whole act.
Who will do it again? That's it; no one;
imitators and descendants aren't the same.

"Perfection Wasted" is taken from John Updike's Collected Poems 1953-
1993

Views: 176

Comment

You need to be a member of Online Grief Support - A Social Community to add comments!

Join Online Grief Support - A Social Community

Comment by Robert Tinsley on May 16, 2009 at 5:21pm
ive lost four children in the past 24 months and even though i have a new baby almost here i feel the most horrible pain , the loss that i would never be ready for i will never be the same person again ,people tell me that i should be healing by now but im not and know in my heart that i will never be able to be that person again i miss them all so badly it seems that i block it out at times because ican not hold the pain and i mean that litteraly they were each so special and each one was different you know i need to download the stories to my page from the newspapers but i cant look at them they are my worst reality (they are really gone)son,daughter does it really matter?love is the most painful emotion i have maybe soon i will be able to download the pictures and story but not yet
Comment by Diana, Grief Recovery Coach on February 6, 2009 at 6:51am
Wow, love this poem. And it is so true. NO ONE can replace Jack.
I never understand when people say: They can have another child - You can never replace the person you lost. Each and Every person is unique. Never can they be replaced.
Thanks for sharing this poem.

Groups

Latest Activity

Louis updated their profile
Nov 24
Louis is now a member of Online Grief Support - A Social Community
Nov 20
Welcome Them!
Marisol Delgado is now a member of Online Grief Support - A Social Community
Nov 13
Welcome Them!
Marcus Delgado updated their profile
Nov 11
Marcus Delgado posted a discussion

My mom died 4 months ago

My mom had pulmonary fibrosis. She was sick for a few years. It was funny how when my grandmother smoked, my mom would always say-I’m gonna die from second hand smoke. My mom never smoked. She died from lung disease. Ironic.I was fine at the funeral. Planning. Talking to everyone. I thought u handled it great. Now 4 months later, I’m a mess. Some days I’m perfectly fine, but others I can’t walk down the street without crying. I keep thinking that I haven’t talked to her in a while & I…See More
Nov 11
0 Comments
Milan updated their profile
Oct 30
Milan is now a member of Online Grief Support - A Social Community
Oct 29
Welcome Them!
J’Lyn Wilson posted a photo
Thumbnail

IMG_3163

My dad was the best human I’ve ever known.
Oct 27
0 Comments

© 2025   Created by Ninja.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service