Monday, December 7, 2009

Instead of Barbara lets say "Genevive"

An Elephant in the Room


There's an elephant in the room.
It is large and squatting,
So it is hard to get around it.
Yet we squeeze by with "How are you?" And "I'm Fine."
And a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.

We talk about the weather.
We talk about work.
We talk about everything - except the elephant in the room.

There's an elephant in the room.
We all know it is there.
We are thinking about the elephant as we talk together.
It is constantly on our minds.

For you see, it is a very big elephant.
It has hurt us all.
But we do not talk about the elephant in the room.

Oh, please say her name.
Oh, please, say "Barbara" again.
Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
For if we talk about her death,
Perhaps we can talk about her life?

Can I say, "Barbara" to you and not have you look away?
For if I cannot, then you are leaving me

Alone...

In a room...

With an elephant...

Terry Kettering



Sorry everyone that i am absent again, the holidays are defeating me.

2 comments:

Brittanie said...

That made me cry and it is exactly how I feel sometimes. (hugs)

I'm sorry Genevieve isn't her to celebrate Christmas with you.

Catherine W said...

I'm sorry. It so difficult when nobody will even mention the names of our little girls.

I talk to Jessica about Genevive sometimes. Not that she understands yet but I would like her to know in the future that there are other little girls growing up without their twin sisters, that your sweet Lillian and beautiful Genevive have a similar story.

I hope that doesn't sound strange. Just wanted to let you know that Genevive is remembered here. xo