My Aunt Phil.
As my Mother suffered at the hands of her Mother my Aunt Phil did not. She was made of stronger stuff, she has a core of steel within her that would carry through her life. She was born 3 years after my Mother and was asickly child. I recall being told that she nearly died from TB and maybe that's what made her strong.
She's as tough as nails but boy what a heart. If she believed in you, she was your staunchest ally. Growing up she was one of my harshest crtitics and never believed that I'd make something of myself. When I showed her I could, and did, she softened. Mind you it was also after I lost a lot of my arrogance too.
She has come to mean so much more than an Aunt. There's a maternal feeling between us and I hope to see her one day again soon. She care for my Mother and I hope and pray to be reconciled with them one day soon.
I wrote this poem for her and all she is...
Born to her Father's dying kiss,
Would mark the end of paternal tenderness,
From that day she would bear the marks,
Of a Mother's cruel and bitter heart.
Over the years she learned how to survive,
And from this hell she grew to thrive,
Into a beautiful woman finally free from her Mother,
Sadly this new freedom would be lost to another.
The scars of her life were buried deep within,
And they formed a tough barrier, an impenetrable skin,
So tough was this armour that nobody knew,
How to get inside and see what was true.
I once saw her as hard and aloof,
Whose battle cry was "it's just the truth",
I witnessed victims of her lighting and thunder,
As I myself was once or twice under.
Over the years I enjoyed the thrill,
Of antagonising my grumpy, cantankerous Aunt Phil,
Then one fine day three years ago,
I lost the life I'd come to know.
What I thought was the end was a new start,
As I discovered my own long lost heart,
And with this discovery came my heart's eyes,
To help me see beyond what people disguise.
Imagine my surprise when I looked at you,
And saw what you'd buried to protect what was true,
What I saw sometimes brings a tear to my eye,
As you revealed the treasure that you had to hide.
All the scars that you suffered could not be undone,
And this motivates you to save helpless ones,
You refuse to stand by and watch innocent souls suffer,
The cruelty you endured at the hands of another.
A pure heart of unconditional love and tenderness,
Is what beats within this study fortress,
I am honoured and thankful that you finally revealed,
For your own survival what you had to conceal.
The key to this fortress is not hard to find,
All's required of you is to be loving and kind,
As the door opens to reveal what's inside,
You finally understand what she had to hide.
A Warriors heart made from butterflies wings,
Is what I now see where outsider's see skin,
I promise it will be one of my greatest pleasures,
To never betray the true you and your secret treasure.
copyright: Alan Graham 2002 - 2010
God bless you Aunt Phil
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