How many stations are left on this journey?
How can we ever know?
We smile at each other with tears in our eyes,
how do we stem the flow?
Don’t worry about how long it takes,
relax and enjoy the view.
Keep smiling through tears, just let them go
and I’ll wipe them away for you.
When we arrive, will we be together
and will you hold my hand tight?
Who will be there to welcome us,
and will it be day or night?
I’ll stay with you for as long as I can,
holding your hand in mine.
We’ll smile together through salty tears
and everything will be fine.
Kim M. Russell, 18th April 2020
My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads NaPoWriMo Day 18 Play it Again in April 2020: Encouragement
On Thursday, April 18, 2013, Susie wanted us to write words to bring light into our own lives or that of another, to lift the spirit. It’s even more apt and poignant than it was back then.
I’m merging this prompt with Kerry’s Skylover Wordlist, sourced from Dylan Thomas’s poetry collection Deaths and Entrances, from which the eighteenth word is ‘stations’.
I struggled to write this morning, as I’m in quite a bit of pain, and not so good at writing poems to lift the spirit.
writing in north norfolk 
I’m also smiling through the tears today. Thank you for this, Kim.
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It’s the mixed emotions of the time, Kerry.
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I am smiling through tears too. Sad times. Your poem encapsulates it well.
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Thank you for reading and commenting.
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You are welcome
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Love it ❤
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Thank you! 😊
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The comfort of touch…that’s what so many of us are missing right now. (K)
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Smiling through tears…..it is a gentle thought. Made all the more encouraging when we can hold the hand of our loved one at the same time.
Thinking of you, Kim. Wishing pain-free days very soon.
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Thank you, Lill.
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What a gentle and lyrical poem. Lovely Kim.
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Thank you, Linda.
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It takes a lot of strength to smile through the tears .. 💝 this is such an evocative write, Kim! Sending love and hugs. Feel better soon!
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Thank you, Sanaa!❤
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This is a tender and poignant poem. True images of how it is for some🌹👍I hope you are feeling better soon🙏
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Thank you so much!😊
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A hand to hold is a great comfort in tough times. Have a peaceful day, Kim.
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Thank you, Sherry.
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A hand to hold is a great comfort in tough times. Have a peaceful day, Kim.
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I can interpret this on various levels, as I expect you intended. So if the train is life, arrival and disembarkation .. well, yes, I would wonder who might be there to meet me, and who might hold my hand as long as possible through the process. (Or even, perhaps, read me poems.)
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This is wonderfully encouraging, Kim. I hope your school kids can find some hope in it.
..
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Thank you, Jim!
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Beautifully written. Thank you for this post.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Geri!
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