The following poetry honors the death of Julia Inez Nelson Hart. It is written In response to
1) Katrine Dunn’s photograph of Great-Grandmother Hart & her great-granddaughter (Katrine’s daughter), Liberty;
2) an audio piano music composition by Nahnee (Katrine’s mother) along with five pieces of poetry; and
3) a recording of Liberty & Nahnee (Dianne, Katrine’s mother) singing a very old hymn.
Additionally, the following poetry is written & shared by dear friends Colin & Virginia Neal, and Dr. Donald Meldrum, in response to the above-mentioned prompts:
Nana
by Virginia Neal #1
Silky pink dresses
with pretty lace collars
Warm woolen coats
with hats to match
Can you hear the old Singer
whisper?
As Nan makes clothes
for me and my sister~
For christenings and parties
and so many proms
Yet of all her efforts
I give her the crown
For the last thing, she made me
My wedding gown.
Farewell to Great Gran
by Colin Neal #2
Memories of Grace…
No one
can take your place
Or replace your loving
caring face
Without you
there will be
an empty space.
Yet you will always be
so fondly remembered
Because your love
could never be erased.
With sweet memories of you
we will always be graced.
Our sweet memories of you
we will always
embrace.
Four Women~Denouement
by Donald Meldrum #3
Eyes that are closed
in the soft light
in the accepting
of what must come
her eyes and her eyes,
and hers and hers,
knowing only that which
can be held,
the warm skin
the heart that beats
the warm breath.
The hymn searches
weaving the robe
for wrapping
In the circle we find
the mystery
the unknowing
of creation.
‘Tis a wonder
a tear-filled wonder
filled and fulfilled
in the holding
as through this image-song
she holds her
in the soft light
and in turn
is held.
Four Women ~ Musical Prelude #4
by Donald Meldrum
She holds her
as she has been held by her.
Time is a circle
holding the two women
hand in hand.
The child sings
a high strong pitch.
Three
she plays the piano
writes a song
Four
she moves the camera
clicks the shutter.
In the soft light
the hands of four women
combine
in this visual music of
holding.
The tears
come from behind her eyes
eyes that have seen
those years,
eyes that have seen
only six years.
The hymn wails
through their lives
on she sings
her hands
curled on the bed
her hand
on the piano
her hand
on the camera.
A Letter to Mama Hart #5
by Nahnee
I hear the measure of your words
feel the rhythm of your walk
I see your God in the flowers
you treasured so highly.
By your presence
you brought new understandings
with melodies of acceptance
You brought scents of adoration
and heralded victories of quiet patience.
You simply
calmly
serenely
understood and performed
the beckoning of God
as you felt His eyes
upon your life.
I thank you.
March 3, 2017, Meldrum poetry 75 words
prompt: katrinedunnphotography2016 of liberty & grandmama hart
By Nahnee #6
Quivering
Quaking
She touches her hand
Strokes her hair of lightly falling waves
Her soul dances before us backward and forwards
The view is inside little Liberty’s seven-year-old journey.
It tells her
No
Not yet
Not one flower
Not one sigh of resignation.
Then we notice
She, the great-granddaughter
Has wrapped her body around
Her great-grandmother’s
Deathbed of raw pureness
We wait.
January 12, 2017, Meldrum poetry workshop
Julia Inez nelson hart crosses over the next day.
By Nahnee #7
Her most notable accomplishments
Were ~
nothing at all.
She did nothing spectacular
She hurt not one living entity
She caused no harm to her enemies
She made each being feel acceptance
She heard not a criticism
nor spoke of any harshness
She felt
plodded
traversed
bled
woven
And held high an even keel
A sameness
A oneness with all humanity
and God.
January 19, 2017, Meldrum poetry workshop
note: I miss you, mama hart. we love you so deeply. di
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