Blog 220 – 02-01-2016

For the month of February, the month of Love, I purpose to post an original poem each day. I began my writing career like most of us born in 1950 with a sentence like “See Dick and Jane.” Or “See Mac and Muff.” I have printed, hand written, and typed many sentences since then and in my early teens I began writing poetry in earnest. The first things I ever had published were poems in the Chattanooga Post Teen Tempo Section of the paper under the pen name of Paul Farrow. In today’s poem I tried to channel the spirit of a young man named Joseph Freeman who left this world on Christmas Eve at the age of 16 several Christmases ago. The timing of his departure is especially hard for families who celebrate the Christmas holiday. I tried to think of what JoJo might want to say to his brother and sisters from his perspective beyond this world. I hope the poem was and is an encouragement to them and to anyone who has lost a loved one.

I recently re-watched the movie, Ghost with the late Patrick Swayze and the lovely Demi Moore. I love the ending of the movie where Patrick’s ghost is freed and going into the light and you can see the shadows of so many waiting to meet him. I believe that is where our departed loved ones are, in a better, brighter world surrounded by light and loved ones also awaiting the not too distant day when they with them and Him will be waiting to welcome us Home.

A Note From JoJo

 Dear Zach, Bekah, and Sarah,

In Love we live and move and breathe.

The hardest lesson in loving is letting go.

In our own time we all must leave.

 

What holds us to this earth,

And keeps us from flying into space?

The scientists call it gravity.

The Christians call it grace.

 

But it is Love that holds us together

And Love that lets us go

From here to a better,brighter place,

The best we’ll ever know.

 

Your loving brother always,

 

JoJo

 

12-30-2011 –note transcribed by DJW after the passing of Joseph Freeman on Christmas Eve 2011, 16 years of age, beloved son, brother, and grandson, a note to his brothers and sisters.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White