Happy Birthday Helen
Tom Fox
adulthood has just begun.
Time has passed and things have changed,
but something has remained the same.
I miss you as much as the day you left,
an empty feeling in my chest.
And I know I never will replace,
the love that fills this empty space.
There’s just some things I’d like to say,
as you’ve inspired the way I live today.
When I’m scared I think of you,
and the trials your illness put you through.
I can’t believe just how brave,
someone could be and at your age.
I always know you’ll always be,
looking down, watching over me.
Many people have brothers and sisters who,
they claim that they are very close to,
but you, James, Catherine and me,
are closer than they will ever be.
My only regret as I sit here and cry,
is that I never got the chance to say goodbye.
Because you fought until the last day,
I never thought you’d go away.
Before I finish I want you to know,
that whatever I do, wherever I go
The memories we shared I’ll never forget,
and the joy you brought to the people you met.
Oh, and I almost forgot to say,
the reason I wrote to you today,
Happy Birthday Helen, I’ll always miss,
my bestest friend, the best big sis.
I cried so much reading this. I cant imagine what it felt like going through that. Your poem is beautiful. Raw talent matched with raw emotions. Much happiness.
What an incredible poem, to be able to create such an emotion through writing is really special. Your sister sounded like such a strong, beautiful and brave person. I myself lost a very close person in the same way, losing a loved one is never easy, your words spoke of nothing but the truth. Wherever you go, no matter how far, she will always be with you by your side. Thank you for creating this beautiful piece of work, it helps those who have lost someone special, feel less alone.
This poem encapsulates the persistence of grief and highlights that those feelings do not shrink as time passes, instead we grow around them. The work demonstrates the importance of clinicians being able to reflect upon their own experiences and acknowledge and address their well-being in order to be able to provide the best care for others. The poem also shows how to the bereaved, the person who has died is still a pivotal part of their life and influences their actions still many years later.
This is beautifully written and clearly full of emotion. As readers, we can clearly feel the love that the poet has for his sister.