Go the mass is ended,
The final blessing given
The recessional begins.
We move your arm rests on my shoulder
Father you are a big man, within a few steps
I doubt my strength in supporting you.
Within several paces, your weight increases
I see you are bending, the pain intense
We are three quarters the way.
As we near the back door you are bent
Fully now on my shoulder, I hear your cry
Your tears of pain, a pain immobilising you.
My fear of dropping you, of stumbling
I focus on getting you home
Back to where you can rest, I can feel relieved.
Somehow we make it back to your room
I help you with the sacred vestments
All the while you are gasping in pain
A man comes I am excused
But the vision, the sound, the weight
Stays with me, I have carried my cross.
Written for: http://dversepoets.com/2014/02/11/openlinknight-week-132/
Also my thanks to C for encouraging me to write this after hearing my story of a man/priest suffering chronic pain.
Morpethroad 
whew. on the death of a mother? maybe.
the carrying of the grieving back
its pretty intense
and real
we carry each others burdens
esp in those times.
Thank Brian happy you could read.
Very powerful write, Michael! You have expressed pain and empathy very effectively.
Thank you Gabriella. Happy you were able to read. I will get to yours soon.
Very intense poem, Michael. Perhaps everyone has their own crosses to carry…if only in their minds. Some are heavier than others.
So true Mary, this one was heavy. Thanks for your comment.
Powerful Michael. I felt his weight and yours. As Mary stated, some crosses are heavier than others and we all have them.
Thanks Jackie yes it was an event to remember, a heavy cross at that.
Intense emotions here.
I’ve held a few heavy crosses. But – not as heavy as I know others have. Still – takes a lot from anyone. So great to have support when we really need it or we’d all be tipping over.
Thanks so much RoSy, we all need help in one way or another.
Michael …what can I say, I got teary as I read your words. I know your story and this was painful, sad and powerfully written…well done my friend.
Thank you Jenny you are again generous in your comment.
The metaphors do speak volumes. I picture an alter boy assisting the priest.
Well not quite but it could have been.
That was extremely moving. Not just because of the man in pain, but the boy who is also in pain. A different sort, but still in pain of his own.
Thank you
Lyn I appreciate you noticing that aspect of the poem.
One of your best I think, very moving! 🙂 🙂
Thank you Helen that is a very generous comment.
Well done, Michael, we can feel the “father’s pain” and was is moving are your words expressing your empathy for this man in pain almost as if you tried to relieve it by feeling it.
Thank you so much Cher it was an experience that has stayed with me
Well, it is moving to read and learn that there are folks who care that much.
It was something I just did, later it occurred to me what I had done. thanks again for the encouragement on this one.
Michael, your piece about this suffering priest reminded me of the sufferings of Saint Padre Pio. You wrote this with so much empathy we can see you and the priest struggling to walk together just as Jesus was helped to carry his cross by Simon of Cyrene. Thank you for this.