Free by Rosalyn R. Smith

Free by Rosalyn R. Smith

Coming here wasn’t easy, but when the sun rose
I remembered your smile, and
that's when
I knew that you were finally free.
Sometimes being free is being free to be from this world,
but this doesn’t mean that I won’t miss you.
Sometimes being free is leaving the one’s you love most.
The countless smiles, the years of laughter,
the tears of joy, and yes the love, all of these things I will
surely miss.
Sometimes being free is receiving a comfort that will
be everlasting because now when I look at your pain
endured here
then I understand that your comfort here was not what it truly
was, and to be truly free one must leave here and enter into a
new place where peace can be truly found with
comfort everlasting
and free.
No more pain, no more suffering, an all new,
brand new you
that awaited you
as you entered into this new place.
The all new,
brand new you
that’s not missing nothing here.
The all brand new you,
without pain.
The memories of the smile you left here,
I know it’s still there,
but the only thing different now
is that
this smile is all brand new
for the all brand new you.
For better or for worse,
in sickness and good health,
till death do us part,
I will truly miss you,
but sometimes being free is
going ahead of the one’s you love most.

This is a poem that can either be read as a free verse, or also an epitaph in its loose definition (short text on a deceased person). This poem really caught my interest because it seems to be truly written from the heart, from a daughter to a parent. It speaks of great grief and sorrow in the loss of their loved one's life, but at the same time, the joy of knowing that that person is now free from their earthly body and has moved on newer and greater things. It is written in love and affection, which is part of why it is so relatable and moving. It ties in with my theme as it speaks of someone who was trapped in life, likely someone who was ill and elderly, who was freed by their death. For this person, life was no longer a joy and gift, but a torment, and knowing that they were no longer suffering and feeling pain equalled freedom. This is a great poem, that is easy to understand, but still touching, not needing overly flowery language or metaphors and similes to evoke a beautiful mood.