Empty Arms, Empty Heart (poem) by Joy L. Hale on AuthorsDen

Reviewed on October 18, 2013

Joy, I too lost my firstborn son...7 hours after he was born of meconioum aspiration...suffocating on the bag of waste because he was in the womb too long for a 3 day labor session at the hospital when the doctors did not even check to know my wife was unable to dilate enough for him to be born...by the time they did a c-section it was too late and he had one lung collapsed and the other half filled with waste...he died struggling for 7 hrs and his death killed me. I never really fully recovered.

Reviewed by Steve Ralph

Reviewed on January 16, 2012

again a very very sad memory, very well penned, I wish you well,
Steve

Reviewed by J Howard

Reviewed on December 3, 2011

your voice rings the pain of too many...losses...losses of hope for a new future, hope for a new love, and hope of a new creation...but always there is rebirth, not in today but in a far away tomorrow. -beautifully written.

Reviewed by Rosemarie Skaine

Reviewed on September 19, 2011

Expresses well a heartache that never quite completely goes away. R

Reviewed by Barbara Henry

Reviewed on August 15, 2011

The pain is evident, but the manner in which you have expressed it is
cathartic. Very touching, Joy

Barbara J.

Reviewed by jude forese

Reviewed on August 11, 2011

a tragic event to endure and overcome ... you expressed it quite movingly ...

when i was carried out the door, it was minus a mother ...

Reviewed by TONY NERONE

Reviewed on August 11, 2011

A very sad yet heartfelelt writing of lifes complications.
GOD BLESS YOU
Tony

Reviewed by Christine Tsen

Reviewed on August 9, 2011

Incredibly beautiful writing Joy, laced with heartache and such exquisitely rendered emotion!
I can't imagine the sadness and pain of this, but I can almost, just almost imagine it. Mine were at 14 weeks when I lost them, there were five one after the other. I love the way you have articulated this from so many angles. Beautiful poem!
Blessings,
Christine

Reviewed by ANNA CLOUTIER (Reader)

Reviewed on August 8, 2011

JIOYCE,,,THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US...POWERFULLY WRITTEN WITH EMOTION, LOSS AND PAIN. A WONDERFUL AND HEARTFELT WRITE. BLESSINGS MY FRIEND ZND KEEP GOING WITH YOUR WONDERFUL WORDS, ANNA

Reviewed by Michelle Mead

Reviewed on August 7, 2011

Wow, Joy. It's so wonderful that you were able to share this with others because it WILL help so many in the same sad situation as well as yourself in writing it. No one can understand the loss of a child until they have lost one themselves. It is like a piece of you is forever missing. Thanks for sharing your heart's pain with us.

Reviewed by Marjorie Baker (Reader)

Reviewed on August 7, 2011

My Dear Joy, You did it and I'm so proud of you! We have shed tears together for one another. This has to be experienced to be understood. I was able to keep our baby boy long enough to hold him. I'm so sorry that you missed that. You and I have much in common. We share the bond of loss, fun times, health problems. Perhaps that's why God brought us together and made us dear friends. This is a wonderful thing you did. God bless you and God bless our friendship! I love you, Marge

Reviewed by James Johnston

Reviewed on August 7, 2011

Dear Joy, when I read your words of bereavement, anguish, torment, heart break and all the reactions to unbearable loss, my mind is unable to convey adequate empathy or sympathy into words. I am reminded of my own sister's loss of an infant boy. I'm sure you know the story. You both survived the losses through strong faith in our Lord and Savior and He rewarded you with the loan of more children. May I leave you this little quote? ~~~ "If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to Heaven
And bring you home again".
~Author Unknown
God Bless, Dear Joy, and know that I am roaming through your Den to add my comments, for what they are worth.~~~ Just Jim

Reviewed by Morgan Merriweather

Reviewed on August 7, 2011

Joy,

peace to you and your little angel. ~ Morgan

Reviewed by Regis Auffray

Reviewed on August 7, 2011

Thank you for sharing this moving and meaningful write, Joy. Love, peace, and healing,

Regis

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on August 7, 2011

YES...EMPTY ARMS AND EMPTY HEART BUT OH, JOY...SO FULL OF FAITH! '...I PRAYED FOR STRENGTH, FOR THE HEALING OF MY HEART, FOR ANOTHER CHILD TO BE BORN ALIVE AND HEALTHY...' THIS WORK IS DEEPLY EMOTIONAL AND WRACKED WITH PAIN, BUT IT IS SO INSPIRING! YOU 'PRESSED ON' AND LOOKED FORWARD TO ANOTHER TIME. THIS IS A STRONG WORK, DONE WELL AND ENJOYED. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS & FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Clarence Prince

Reviewed on August 6, 2011

"I prayed for strength, for the healing of my heart, for another child to be born alive and healthy." It takes great faith to say that, Joy and with our God all things are possible. Take courage!

Reviewed by Gopal Prapannabrat

Reviewed on August 6, 2011

so deep. like the way of expression of the situation. nice poem.

Reviewed by Linda Hill

Reviewed on August 6, 2011

Joy,
This brought tears to my eyes, Joy. May God be with you and give you comfort every day of your life. You will see your baby one day. I could feel your pain in every verse, Joy. God bless you.

Blessings,
~Linda

Reviewed by La Belle Rouge Poetess Of The Heart

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

Touched me so deeply Joy, brought my tears.

Reviewed by Gene Williamson

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

Joy, may the day soon come when your prayers are answered. -gene.

Reviewed by Felix Perry

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

Seeing this intense amount of pain and sadness through your words made me stop and perhaps for the first time understand what a mother who loses a child this way truly feels. I cannot begin to imagine but at least now I can try to understand. Thank you for sharing such an intense part of your heart.
fee

Reviewed by Laura Fall

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

Oh my how sad as this is a truly touching and heartfelt poem indeed Laura

Reviewed by Mr. Ed

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

So very sad, and so very heartfelt, Joy.

Reviewed by Richard King

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

I've found it so difficult to write about some of the sadness in our lives and nothing can be more sad than losing a child, no matter what age, no matter how long ago it occurred.

I must say however, you've done an excellent job of conveying the emotions experienced by all who are affected.

Nicely penned. Thank you Joy. Dick

Reviewed by Christine Alwin

Reviewed on August 5, 2011

Joy, My heart just sinks into the pit of my stomach, I can't imagine the pain and sorrow to expierence such a loss. Bless your little Angel, he will always be held in your arms and heart, he is protected now in the best of hands~
Christine

Reviewed by Vivian Dawson

Reviewed on August 4, 2011

Dearest Lady Joy, so very special, this place in your heart, that You have shared with us of heartfelt sorrow...I truly wish that we could understand, but God is all knowing...However, this I know, God Loves You, and so do We....Always Love, Lady Vivian

Reviewed by Joy Hale

Reviewed on August 4, 2011

Mark, I have written the hardest poem I will ever write. Yes, the pain, somehow, is always fresh, no matter how much time elapses. I cried while writing the poem and cried again while reading your tender response. I have other children now to replace the pain of that first birth, but will never forget my first baby boy, held close in my heart for all time. Joy

Reviewed by John Flanagan

Reviewed on August 4, 2011

This tears at my heart, Joy,
and of course it tore at yours, the loss
of life so personal, the life you carried.
i'm not sure we men fully understand a woman's loss
but i do try.
Much love to you,

John

Reviewed by Mark Lichterman

Reviewed on August 4, 2011

Joy , what can a friend like me say. It is not like I can hold your hand or hug you. But I certainly can tell you how sad I am for you for the death of a baby, for the death of your baby is a sorrow I can only, no, in truth, I cannot imagine. I know this was many years ago as I know that you, like I, are no longer young, but obviously, no matter how long ago this personal tragedy occurred, I know it still tugs at your heart as though it were yesterday.
Sorry I cannot hold you close of a minute to tell you, I am so sorry.
Mark

Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)

Reviewed on August 4, 2011

Oh boy. This is a sad, sad thing to have happened, Joy, and words can't be said or written to convey the sorrow I have for you and your husband. A truly, sad, sad day.