Silence – an Homage to My Grandmother
This post is about my grandmother Rosi as today would have been her birthday. The poem is sort of a translation of a song which I explain at the end of this post. It’s in the memory of her and about my deep connection with her and missing her.
Silence
So quiet That everybody knew this is for good
For good and for a lifetime, and it was
So quiet
That everybody sensed no words could
Ever help describe this loss
So quiet
That all the clocks were silent as in a still-life piece of art
So quiet and so lost you had to part
So quiet and so lost you had to part
I’ve heard so much, but it never gets to me
That’s what keeps me up at night and think of thee
Even if I write a thousand songs ‘bout missing you
Doesn’t mean I understand
Why this aches so much and stays so true
So loud,
The hours after impact when I had
To understand what’s happening and it was, too,
So loud,
That everything we thought of brought nothing but an emptiness to us
So loud and so departed as it was
When silence lived with us instead of you
I’ve heard so much, …
So quiet, and still missing you at every bend,
And wherever you today may stand
You showed me this silence has from now become your friend
I’ve heard so much …
I’ve heard so much…
Today my grandmother Rosi would have turned 102 as she was born the 13th Feb. 1922. And we had a special connection. When I was with her I could just be myself. We had the same knack for technology, fit photography, for some morbid stories and poetry and also for origami. Got the love for hand crafts from her as well. Even though I never got to her level e. g. when it comes to knitting. She taught me how to develop black and white photos and we just had so many great conversations.
Well, I am grateful that I had her so long in my life as she turned 93 and still I miss her every now and then thinking, she would have loved this. I know she would have loved this blog. And god knows what she would have done with ChatGPT and AI.
Kim Glover a dear friend, that unfortunately lives much too far away was so kind to publish this poem already some years ago on her blog Glovergardens. Today I feel I need to republish it on my own blog.
The poem above is my translation / interpretation of the song song Still (German for “silent” or “quiet”) by Jupiter Jones.
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What a beautiful homage to your grandmother. I feel your emotion through your words, especially “so quiet
That all the clocks were silent as in a still-life piece of art”
I understand that quiet. I love the part as well, “You showed me this silence has from now become your friend”.
Thank you, Melissa!
Such a wonderful picture of you and your grandma. I really like the juxtaposition of the silence in your poem.
Thanks a lot!
You’re welcome, Jan.
A lovely tribute to your grandmother. I like how you used repetition. You were fortunate to have such a person in your life as long as you did.
Thank you, Yvonne!
A beautiful, tender tribute to your grandmother. The love comes through, and I feel that silence.
Love the homage and having been through that (and soon being the oldest) I do recognize that emptiness.
This is such a gorgeous and moving tribute .. sigh..
Thank you, Sanaa!
She would have loved this tribute! You are so amazing!
Thank you! Well, I hope I got some of her genes of awesomeness. 😉
God bless you