No Limit To Tears
Powerful, the cry of anguish.
Happens at the end of your rope.
That heaving, full-moon cry,
the howl of a wounded animal.
After Death has taken another,
the scythe merciless and swift…
or sometimes wielding a precise,
torturous scalpel.
When Death strangled Mom, my tears
fell faster than ducts could release them;
my head filled with salt water,
clogging my brain, my mind.
Tears poured forth in a torrent,
flooding the room.
I floated in that pool for hours until,
gut-sore, I was washed back to my room.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For We Write Poems (Take it to the Limit), and Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
This is a great poem, Amy. Good poem, hard read. Thank you for doing what you do best . . .touch us. Help us heal. May it touch and help you as you write as well.
Sharp Little Pencil
That’s the best we can all hope for, right, Debbie? Thanks, hon.
earlybird
I guess we all know ‘That heaving, full-moon cry,’ Amy. Good portrayal of feelings. I like the last line alot too.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, I appreciate the compliment! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh this is so powerful, Amy. I know those gut-wrenching tears. Very poignant poem about losing your mom, and how your head filled up with water. Really good writing.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sherry. You know, it’s been about 20 years, and it feels like yesterday sometimes… I appreciate your thoughtful comment. Amy
Roger Green
It’s so weird; the death of my mother this year has been more a numbing, rather than crying event. yet I look forward to Mother’s Day not at all.
Sharp Little Pencil
I wrote you an email in reply, Roger. Blessings, Amy
Mary
You have really captured the feeling, Amy. Your poem brought me right back to the deaths I’ve experienced… Hard to go there.
Sharp Little Pencil
Sorry, Mary, and like I said to Paula, sometimes tears are a gift. In your case, maybe one you didn’t need to unwrap today, right? Amy
pmwanken
Have had some of those anguish cries lately….well described, Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Sorry to hear that, Paula, and yet tears are a gift, so maybe it’s a good thing you are getting them out… A
Jae Rose
Like Alice..falling into a pool of salty tears..they hurt but maybe refresh too..lead you back to your room..the next day..the next moment..keep you moving..Jae (couldn’t help but comment..now over to Lindy-Hoppers..)
PinkLady
whether that is a nightmare or for real, i felt profound pain as i read it. very well written, amy. thanks for visiting my site. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Bing, same here, always glad to see you. The pain, absolutely 100% guaranteed real. It’s hard, crying when the tears are coming too fast… I was almost afraid my eyes would, I don’t know, pop out or something! Take care, A.
christine
WOW, you have captured my sorrow to a T. Both my parents died of cancer 22 months apart from each other. I could barely breath in between. From the time Dad died to Moms death, I got married, moved to another province, moved back and had a baby. I understand so much of what you wrote here. I will not cry right now, I’ll reread and do it later, my tears for you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Christine, I’ll have to send you an email. We have so much in common, I think I’m gonna go have a cry myself! Hey, it’s one of the only addictions I have left…
Kim Nelson
“gut sore…”
Any of us who has experienced such grief knows exactly what this means, feels like. You combined the words so succinctly, Amy, leading us to that place of sorrow. ~And the exhaustion that inevitably follows.
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, I have been consciously experimenting with phrases and even words (like a splurch, the amount of red wine that makes a stew perfect), onomatopoeia, and other wordplay. But yes, the grief itself, it is exhausting once you’re drained the well. Thanks for a thoughtful comment, Kim. Amy
Ellen
Wow, so descriptive and sad~ I found myself thinking of Alice crying a pool of tears~ You did an amazing job, describing the tilted, fulled headed feeling of sorrow~xXx
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Ellen… I didn’t think of Alice, but you are spot on! I’m approaching Mother’s Day and, despite being a mom myself, I cry like a baby every year…
beespoetry
Every Mother’s day, I’m grateful my mom’s still kicking ass and taking names- six years cancer-free, now. I cannot imagine the pain you feel, and I’m sending lots of good feelings and snuggles your way. Long distance hug!
Now, for the poem itself: you make this writing thing seem so effortless. With phrases “like heaving, full-moon cry”, “my head filled with salt water,/ clogging my brain”, “sometimes wielding a precise,/ torturous scalpel”, I can only sit in awe.
Sharp Little Pencil
Bee, really, I’m taking dictation from my life experience. The idea of a “full-moon cry” came to me years ago when I was explaining the facts of life to Riley, telling her about the emotional side of women’s cycles. But I appreciate your praise so much, in part because I love you work, too! You’ve got the edge goin’ on, you know? I had a wonderful Mom’s Day, including a call from Riles. It rocked!
Jingle
be easy, keep smiling…
Happy Mother’s Day to Moms in your family.
xx
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Jingle, and the same to you!
JZ Knowles-Smith
Great lines and superb imagery in this piece, Amy.
As I said in my reply to your comment on my Gaga piece, I’ll be having an article published about feminism/sexism in a few weeks, so I’ll send it your way.
And thanks so much for adding me to your ‘Love These Poets’ list! I like “on everything and anything” – that’s what I aim for!
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, I call ’em as I see ’em. Thanks for the comments on my piece, and again, your Gaga post ROCKED. Please do send the article link to me, and thanks again! Amy
Jingle Poetry
Glad to discover your poetry talent,
Impressed,
Hope to see you join our poetry potluck today,
1 to 3 random poems or poems unrelated to our theme are welcome in case you fall short in doing a theme fitting piece.
Bless you.
Keep up the excellence.
xxx
Happy Belated Mother’s Day…BEST!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for the visit, Jingle. I’ll try to come to potluck, provided I have something tasty to share. 🙂 Amy
uponthewingsofnight
The phrase “heaving, full moon cry” was what really hooked me in this poem. I have not had that happen to me, despite the fact that I have lost my mother and three of my siblings in less than five years. Death decided to use its scythe instead of being more surgical in its strike upon my family. I’m hoping I can take a break from all of that for a few years, at least. Brett