Barb
My mentor/therapist/friend/loved one,
you told us to process our trauma
like peeling an onion. Peel a layer
and let the open wounds heal a
while before peeling the next.
Twelve weeks on, forty weeks off,
year after year, layer by layer,
we peeled our onions. Each year
our onions shrank, the wounds
still open but quicker to heal.
What we never bothered to see
was the layers clouding you,
brilliant, gentle sun,
as darkness encased
your angelic form.
Dearest Jesus-
with-skin you
shine again
smiling for
ever from
clouds.
Written in memory of Barb, who passed during the Covid nightmare.
Melissa Lemay is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics. Melissa says:
Write a poem including the onion in some way, no matter how small.
Tao Talk 
This is a heart felt tribut to your friend and therapist. Love this part: process our trauma
like peeling an onion.
The peeling bit by bit as the weeks and months go by is very healing. Love the photo of your friend.
LikeLiked by 3 people
<3 Thank you, Grace. She was one of a kind.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A poignant haibun, Lisa, and a wise and hopeful simile.
LikeLiked by 2 people
<3 Thank you, Kim.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
amazing poetry Li! :-)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Carol Anne <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely tribute.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Sassy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s amazing how those layers of darkness cloud our vision until we finally see. A wonderful remembrance of your beloved friend and therapist, and an inspiring encouragement to peel back those layers.❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Melissa. The onion is still there, being peeled, and still under her guidance, as the lessons remain from her gentle teaching <3
LikeLiked by 2 people
So raw and honest. An amazing contribution; quite touching. Thank you for your wonderful words.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Miriam, thank you very much. I meant every word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a tender, heartfelt homage. I’m so sorry for your loss (and yes, “the Covid nightmare”). She sounds like such an amazing woman. 💙
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Merril!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a heartfelt tribute poem, Lisa. I can feel the gentleness of her soul in her eyes 💙💙
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sanaa, she was truly a saint. I miss her.
LikeLike
Lisa, this makes me feel good. I could use some of that ‘therapy’. Your first task is hard, those open wounds won’t heal for me. One especially I don’t talk about very often. Probably another also.
Speaking of that, my Dermatologist called while I was writing this, to make an appointment for further work on a spot on my hand that came back with a poor biopsy.
And, . . . I must peel the bandage off now tp let the open air heal it some before she does her work.
..
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jim thank you for your thoughtful and sensitive comment. If you can find a gentle soul to share the hurts with, a little at a time, it can mean a path to healing. I’m so sorry about the spot on your hand. I hope the intervention is minimal, with complete healing.
LikeLike
This is such a beautiful heartfelt story. I am so sorry for your loss. Sounds like she knew with it takes to find healing and recovery.
LikeLike
Wow!!! Luv the haiku to end.
Happy Tuesday
Much💖love
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gillena <3
LikeLike
A beautiful homage to a friend, Lisa. So sad yet full of love.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The world lost a bright light when she passed. I miss her so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand so.well. Hugs to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful and poignant poem Li. Sorry for the loss of a friend. That hurts badly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words, Sadje. I didn’t learn of her passing until I sent her and her husband a Christmas card. I saw their name on what I thought was a return card to me and learned what happened.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a shocking way to learn of this sad news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a beautiful tribute! Filled with words of wisdom that inspire one to reflect on the hidden layers of oneself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truedessa thank you very much.
LikeLike
I’m sooo sorry Lisa.. what a beautiful heartfelt poem for your friend💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cindy thank you for your condolences <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome Lisa💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry for your loss Lisa…nice tribute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Max, Barb passed on awhile back. Thank you for your condolences.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes and we always think of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a moving tribute Msjadeli, and a metaphor I also share in my poem, as well as life…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. Will be looking for your poem.
LikeLike
A touching tribute to your friend, Lisa. May her soul rest in peace. I love the part where you talk about peeling the onion layer by layer and waiting for it to heal before peeling the next layer. Also, the line,’ Each year our onions shrank, the wounds still open but quicker to heal.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smitha, thank you, and it is just like that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is heartfelt, Li. :) Lovely tribute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Kitty <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Li. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tender haibun, Lisa. I’m so sorry for your loss. Friends like her are hard to find, who leave you with a legacy of love to treasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 Thank you for your kind and sensitive comment, Dora.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel the depth of the loss in your words but the wisdom and techniques you carry forward from her shining light are so valuable. (“12 weeks on, 40 weeks off” …how interesting). Thank you for sharing a little sparkle of her light with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mish, it “works” for me. We used a workbook, “Shelter from the Storm,” along with it. I have a stack of them from over the years. You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful tribute Lisa ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you <3
LikeLike
Wise words to live by and a beautiful dedication to your dear friend Lisa. ❤️☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Christine. Much appreciated <3
LikeLike
My condolences, Lisa. It sounds like your friend was a very caring person. The toll from COVID is just horrible, and I’m afraid we haven’t seen all of it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christian, thank you for the condolences. She was the real deal. She lived her beliefs and helped so many in such important ways. I agree on COVID.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s rough losing a dear friend. Oftentimes, it seems Billy Joel got it right with his song ‘Only the Good Die Young’. While I don’t wish death on anyone, bad folks oftentimes seem to be like weed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a beautiful tribute and so profound. She looks a bright and wise soul and our loss.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was all of those things and so much more. Thank you for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And to add this as have lost my own poetic space. But I remember a teaching colleague who would bring an onion in to the classroom and peel it. Tears flowed. Carole Ann Duffy, Valentine ‘I give you an onion’https://genius.com/Carol-ann-duffy-valentine-annotated
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it! Now why did you have to go and make me cry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, sorry but guess thats what a layer of onion can do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3
LikeLike