Silent Nights Poem by Simone Harriman

I can fully empathize with your poem, Simone, as my wife of nearly 50 years died in October. I was very moved by your depth of feeling and clarity of expression. I don't think I've read any of your poems before but it certainly won't be the last. This is going in my list of favourites.

When the world reels round in gaiety and festivity, you feel deserted and lonely and the contrast of the festive season and your inner inertia is felt more severe! Your purgatory experience is so evocative and poignant and the image of the frozen pump with blocked pipes is very powerful!

A very original take on Christmas and the absence of a loved one.

Inner painful life, sense of purgatory on christmas day. Body lying prostrate with palms up on ice, too many terminal wounds, to cope with the anorexic conversations with God- O God please do not stretch my loneliness far into the night

The date of submission suggested that you are still mourning for your cat, (Forgive me if I'm wrong) I hope you will get through it eventually. I feel for you Thanks Inez for sharing-10

My body lies prostrate with palms up On ice somewhere.......my heart is not with me. Christmas is a season of joy...... the whole world celebrates it. you are also celebrating......... it is clear from your poem...... God give you joy always. it is my prayer for you. and this prayer is from heart and very sincere.. tony

Cold, numb, and unsupervised Drowning in a post mortem of weeping taps An internal frozen pump.....imaginary views of depression on christmas eve.....thank u dear poet. tony

Though Christmas brings joy, laughter, love, kiss and high spirits among the neighbors yet you are in tragic recalling the past memories. This is a beautiful poem with frolic and tragic having touching expression. Thanks for sharing.

They say that the Christmas season is the hardest on those who are grieving and it surely must be so. So many of us have all those happy childhood memories of waiting for Santa Claus, opening up the mysteries those gay boxes contain, laughter, friends, family, church....that to spend the day in sorrow magnifies the pain a thousand fold. I spent my 18th Christmas from dawn to dusk with my dying horse in the worst winter seen in my hometown for years and years both before and since. It took many Christmases to pass before I could enjoy Christmas again though I never forget the harrowing pain of growing up and making my first hard hard decision. I often wonder why did it happen on Christmas Day and I try not to be bitter about it...spending the day in the harsh snow and bitter cold alone with my first horse who kept struggling to get up just isn't Christmasy in any way that I in my youth could see... so in my way this poem of yours resonates with me. A powerful and tragic poem very well written.

Deeply touched. I remember the lonely colourless Christmas after my husband died. The joviality increased my sense emptiness. Love mentions the loss of your most beloved cat friend. The last verse blew me away. Phew! ! ! ! Powerful.