~ Poems of Love ~

The following poems have been written by me, for my husband Hamada, who suffered from Multiple Myeloma [IgG Kappa] a cancer of the plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow. After many months of chemotherapy, contracting pneumonia twice, once given only twelve hours to live and having three bad fractures to his spine and also showing in his Pelvis, he made it to four years seven months. The Multiple Myeloma attacked his Kidneys first showing at diagnosis in May 2006 leaving Hamada only a small percentage of kidney function. He never complained, using his most amazing smile even when I knew he had severe pain. Hamada underwent a Stem Cell Transplant using his own 'harvested stem cells' . During October 2007 he spent seventeen days in the "Centre For Clinical Haematology" at Nottingham City Hospital UK. where he achieved this transplant. We had a scare at six months after transplant, when told 'the beast was back' but subsequent tests showed a partial remission. Again in early 2009 it was confirmed that Hamada was out of remission He fought again during 2010 with newer chemo type drugs. First with Velcade and then with Revlimid but to no avail. His Kidneys were failing further and Hamada chose not to have dialysis. This blog contains poems and updates, written for Hamada, telling of our life together.
Now a beautiful book has been published, see http://www.susiehemingway.com/books/
showing Hamada's personal fight against Multiple Myeloma in the first fifty 'poems of love' written by me his wife. I hope you like these poems of love and also 'our story' dedicated to Hamada, who passed away peacefully at home on 23 November 2010 after a most courageous fight against Multiple Myeloma.

24 September, 2009

Autumn Lady by Susie Hemingway



She came rushing in, or though it seemed to me,
disbelief that this colourful Lady with her cloak of reds and golds
had already arrived, when I glanced from my window.
I must have been looking the other way!
but then we don’t count the days pursuing more important matters now…
As the relentless stricken battle appears once more on the horizon,
had she come to distract my mind or bring colours to my heart?


This feckless stunning Lady who sheds her clothes
and scatters them where she will,
like drops of tears in a template of sadness perhaps?
A powerful change of authority as restless and now incipient to decay.
Old roses fade and fall like shattered fragments of glass
from a precious mirror,
the hedgerows become bare, no more luscious berries
but still holding onto their thin strips of life.


Leaves, could they ever be more beautiful?
turning to deep maroons and burnished, glinting, jewelled colours.
Conkers appearing from their secret shells to fall in copper splendour
from the impressive stately Horse Chestnut trees.
We arrived, like we had just opened our eyes.


Another Autumn! who would have believed we would see this majestic
Lady together, dumbstruck once more at her beauty
but belligerently waging war on staying in our perfect peaceful Summer…
not for us, the rushing of time…




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18 comments:

John said...

Hi Susie;

Loved your poem and the photos.

"This feckless stunning Lady who sheds her clothes
and scatters them where she will,
like drops of tears..." Great line!

My best to you and Hamada.

Jean said...

Even in a season that seems to want to hurry change, we must hold tightly to all the beautiful moments in it.
May you have many many beautiful moments to come.

Minna Van Stone said...

Thank you for your gift of the pleasant reminder that Autumn is where colors are most vivid before they disappear. I guess being a hopeless romantic I want them to linger forever.
Minna Van Stone.

Lora Conrad said...

We need those distractions you wrote of – even if they only last for a season. What a beautiful analogy. Hopefully, that horizon is further away then you think. Like John, I too liked the same line – it portrays quite a provocative image! You are so very clever. What a lovely gateway at Hemingway – a very fitting entry to where such beautiful poetry is conceived

A Cuban In London said...

Oh, yes, autumn is here and I am a happy man. My favourite season's arrived!

Greetings from London.

christina said...

You have made the arrival of my autumn, more beautiful.
xo

LarryG said...

i love to arrive at autumn, this is a wonderful vignette...
lovely allusions here

Margie said...

I so love Autumn and so love your beautiful poem, Susie!

Wonderful pictures too!
Thank you!

Margie:)

Shadow said...

this is so so beautiful. you've captured the essence of autumn...

Janice Bertsche said...

"Beautiful poem. Thank you Susie."

Unknown said...

I only have one word, Susie: sweet.

Very sweet indeed.

When you get a minute, I posted photos from here earlier today. Local college campus. Not a lot of color yet, but it is starting.

Take care, my friend. Both of you.

Michael Morse said...

I loved reading this, so I read it a dozen times, and will a dozen more because I printed it and posted it on hallowed ground...the front of the refridgerator!

Thanks, Susie, I hope all is well.

Tabor said...

Thank you for your compliments. But thank you much more for this lovely word picture of the season. You capture it so perfectly.

Sky said...

autumn seems to arrive much sooner than she did when i was young. now that i am ready to slow down and take in the moments carefully the seasons do not cooperate. this celebration of rich, autumn color, the need to hold on tightly to time as it rushes too guickly forward is so poignant. i understand.

Sandy said...

Your poem prompted me to write "Who can stop the sunset?" and gift those precious moments as the sun slips down behind the mountain and sea - caught, but not stopped - to you and your beloved... I love your words that bring the essence of a season or a moment into very sharp focus. Thank you again....

Lori said...

Absolutely beautiful! I have written about you on my blog and posted a link from my blog to your blog. :)

Susie Hemingway said...

Thank you all so very much for the generous and kind comments entered here on my thoughts of Autumn and for taking the time during your busy days to post them here. May you all enjoy this very beautiful season.

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

Gorgeous poem about my favourite time of year !

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