I'll Fly Away

by Michael D Nalley   Mar 5, 2013


I had been holding tears back so long,
Saw no need to let them flow that day.
Someone had to pretend to be strong
When really bad news was on the way
They told us she would not get stronger
Over but the crying, some would say,
We knew she'd not be here much longer
Won't forget the sorrow of the day
We joyfully sang I'll fly away.
This poem
was inspired by
Maple Tree's
contest
Write about an emotional moment in your life
example: Birth of a child, Loss of a loved one

It was about this time last year that my sister, Janet, started showing signs she was in the end stage of the worse kind of cancer of the pancreas
She was such an inspiration because she left so gracefully, accepting anything that she endured so strongly. She made it too easy for me, and I was in denial right up to the time the choir sang one of her favorite prayer group songs "I'll fly away" . I brought nothing new to the groaning board, as my friend said, but this poem will always remind me that the sick can leave their suffering and pain behind, yet remain in the Spirit
I was moved to tears of joy and sorrow when "I'll fly Away" was the last song sung at her funeral mass.Look at the top of the altar Larry.

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Latest Comments

  • 11 years ago

    by Jenni Marie

    "This poem makes me think of a family member or a friend sick in the hospital, and that those closest have nothing to do but wait until they pass away, and the closing line makes me want to cry. It's so beautiful yet filled with such sadness simultaneously. I"Someone had to pretend to be strong" Hands down my favourite line. This really stood out to me because it is so relate-able. Too often we try to be strong when in reality we're coming apart underneath the act. I wasn't so keen on the constant use of filler words, such as "I, she" etc along with the sudden change in rhyme scheme as it altered the flow slightly. I felt it took some of the emotion away from what could have otherwise been an extremely moving poem. "

    :)

  • 11 years ago

    by Larry Chamberlin

    Had I known the author, I would have known the event. This poem is a beautiful dirge to your sister.
    My original comment:
    Rhyme scheme: a-b-a-b-c-d-c-a-a Meter: 9-10-9-9-9-9-9-10-9
    The message here is again one of loss, but in this case the speaker focuses on the needs of others ("Someone had to pretend to be strong"). On the other hand, the message is simple and direct yet without anything new to place on the groaning board. It would help to set out the relationship (mother, daughter, grandmom, Mother Superior). The poem begs particulars to bring the reader into the veil of mourning.
    EDIT: Graphic tribute. The poem & the explanation become a chalice on an altar.

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