The Asian Astrologer ๐Ÿช

Share this post

hands, holding.

theasianastrologer.substack.com

Discover more from The Asian Astrologer ๐Ÿช

humanizing Astrology through my own personal stories ๐Ÿต โ€” welcome, I'm so glad you're here!
Continue reading
Sign in

hands, holding.

a poem to my grandmother ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ

Gwen Yi ๐ŸŒป
Jul 4, 2023
13
Share this post

hands, holding.

theasianastrologer.substack.com
5
Share

when i touched Ma Maโ€™s hand today, it felt different. i felt the wrinkles on her palm; the slow thrum of her pulse. old, weathered hands. somehow, Death makes me want to write poetry. as though flowery language will help take some of the sting out of it. the sheer permanence of itโ€” regret, rolling hot and sticky on my tongue. could i have done more? should i have? itโ€™s all too late now, if anythingโ€™s to be said about the milky white of her irises. unseeing, unseen. one foot fully on the other side now. it is only a matter of time, and time is the greatest teacher. i sit patiently waiting for the seconds to tick by. there is truly nothing like holding someoneโ€™s hand for the last time. the warm, scratchy, leathery feel of it. how much of it is artificial? how much of it is Her? the same hands that touched me, soothed me, hugged me, brought me into this world. that carried me from when i was an infant to the big, bumbling, crybaby mess i still am. Death is the greatest teacher. nothing is quite as sobering, that reminds you to be as present, that teaches you to show up, just show up, for the love of god please just SHOW UP, because thatโ€™s all that matters, in the end. you, stroking the palm of her hand until eternity. as though it will reveal all the secrets of the universe. as if it could prevent

what

happens

next.

// ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ

my grandmother is dying, and all i can write is poetry. thank you for being here. ๐Ÿ’˜

update: she passed away peacefully this morning. my hand was the last thing she ever held. may her soul rest in eternal peace.

13
Share this post

hands, holding.

theasianastrologer.substack.com
5
Share
Previous
Next
5 Comments
Share this discussion

hands, holding.

theasianastrologer.substack.com
Julia Boone
Jul 4Liked by Gwen Yi ๐ŸŒป

Witnessing you and your poetry as you hold the hand of this moment, observing the liminal moments between this life and the next. I hope you will receive signs from her when it is time for her to pass through the veil.

When my own father died, I felt the poetry flow from me too. Everything was beautiful. Everything was significant. I wanted to remember everything we said, everything I saw and touched and heard and felt at his bedside at the end. I hear you.

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
sierra
Jul 4Liked by Gwen Yi ๐ŸŒป

A beautiful part of you is shedding with her. Feeling your transmutation ๐Ÿ•Š

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
3 more comments...
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

ยฉ 2023 Gwen Yi ๐ŸŒป
Privacy โˆ™ Terms โˆ™ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing