Eternal Flame by Dale Innis on Midjourney
My Ever-Present Mother
Your flame burns bright; it won’t go out
because I will not let it…
You are so alive inside of me
even in my sleep you invade my dreams
Things that make up me came from you,
from the cellular to our sense of humor,
we are bound and tied.
Although your face dims in my twilight
I can still hear your voice inside
Christmas Day was an unusual date
chosen for you to leave our stage,
while neighbors were unwrapping their gifts
you were unwrapping yourself
until…. Voilá you disengaged.
I never will forget the shock of knowing
that you had left on that joyous morn
but life no longer held your interest
your heart was failing;
you dreamed of being reborn.
Thank you for giving me my life,
giving me a bit of the rebel you…
your easy laugh, oh how you loved to laugh!
Your loyalty, your natural generosity,
I’m your daughter for eternity, and you
the eternal flame, my ever-present mother.
Karima Hoisan
December 25, 2022
Costa Rica
Digital Rabbit Hole 
Beautiful; once again you are both deeply personal and so universal. I will remember my own mother today, because of your well-chosen words.
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Thank you Dale, for the perfect image and also…what a beautiful thing to say!!! I am glad my words invited you to think of yours:) How wonderful!
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Stunningly beautiful, Karima. I thought of my mother and teared up.
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Ohh Jay, thank you..like Dale’s words, it means much to me to know my memories have touched your own memories about your mother. How special!
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I love that illustration the eternal flame my dear friend Karima. I love this loving, giving, reassuring, and compassionate picture you have given us of your mother Karima. It is so beautiful and I am so glad that you know her body gave up when it was her time. I am sorry that this loss has to be at such a difficult time. Holidays can be hard to many people for so many reasons my gracious friend and to have a death of one’s parent on Christmas day must be so difficult. I am sending you so much love, prayers, and hugs and will talk to you soon. Take care of yourself and thank you for sharing your most loving poem with us Karima. Love you, Joni
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Thank you so much Joni…yes my mother had a wonderful life but she was ready to move on, on that Christmas morning. As I am muslim(my mother was not) even though I am not in religious celebrations at Christmas, my country celebrates La Navidad in splendid, colorful ways. Actually I use this time to visit her virtual tomb, and decorate it for Christmas every year. I feel she was given the best present on that Christmas morn. Much love to you too Joni and I hope your holidays were beautiful and full of love. Thank you Joni for your amazing, loving support of my poetry. Love you!!❤️🤗❤️
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Hello dearest Karima, I think your mother got the most beautiful gift ever that day as well. You have such a glorious way of accepting all your blessings. It has been a busy time for me. I will be in touch this week. What a beautiful sentiment to have a virtual tomb. Excited to catch up my dear friend. I love you too. 🦋🌹❤️🎈🤗🌺🌷🌟
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Karima I see the beautiful love you but into this virtual tomb, so incredibly thoughtful. Not surprised at all. Love you sweetie.
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I look forward to catching up and here is a photo of my parents tombs
Much love Joni, Karima
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Thank you so much and love you too Joni ❤️
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Wow Karima, thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry for your loss, truly sending you so much love, light and hugs during this time and always. This piece is such a beautiful expression of your love for your mother and the love that goes on. I think of two words while reading: powerful + strong. The emotion you captured in every single line is so strong in its vulnerability and authenticity. And every word on its own is so deeply powerful and when put together it hits on another level. And the ending is true magic, one can feel the heart and love bursting from each letter.
Thinking of you, my dear Karima. Lots of love your way, keep writing and keep expressing what’s within 🤍🤗🤍🤗
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Thank you so much Grace, this happened many years ago and although we knew she had problems, the timing and quickness was very unexpected. But I feel her close and that is a comfort..In many ways she was bigger than life…yes who was strong with a powerful charisma..those that knew her loved her..Thank you again for swimming in my poetry…you are such an immersive reader..and not at all afraid of the deep end either:) Happy new year may it be a good creative and connective and more Peace on Earth please.🤗❤️🙏
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You’re always welcome, dear friend. I’m sure it‘a still a strange time of year for you. But I absolutely love and admire your perspective on the eternal flame left behind 🤍🤗. Omg thank you for letting me swim, the deep end is the fun part 😊. All the same to you in 2023 🤗🤗
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The deep end is where it all happens…thank you for being such an intuitive swimmer, Grace:) 🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️
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What a beautiful tribute to your dear mother Karima!
This was so heart wrenching and yet symbolically what a great time to move with the angels and she sounded like an angel to me.
“while neighbors were unwrapping their gifts
you were unwrapping yourself
until…. Voilá you disengaged.”
💗
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Oh yes, love how you say it Cindy. “move with the angels” On her virtual tomb these words are carved.”Bells toll a mourning/ Angels on high/Heads in their hands.. Here’s a picture of my Family Tomb in the virtual… https://filedn.com/l7Df4R6F1DTBv0B99l7YP6L/Family%20Tomb.jpg
She was wonderful, eccentric, full of life and yes that line you mentioned is very true…it was her time..I am very sure she joyously surrendered to it.. Thank you Cindy for such meaningful comments always….❤️🤗❤️
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I’m so glad to know that Karima. Oh that is just so touching and I’m grateful for you sharing. I’m going to head there in a minute.
Of course she was, just like you. Like mother, like daughter. I thought for a minute my FIL might choose to make the leap on Xmas. He’s so strong and vibrant but declining. Always so hard to say farewll.
You’re so welcome always Karima!
❤️❤️💗
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This poem is full of so many emotions, but love is obviously the most important here. What a treasure ❤
Hugss!
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Aww thank you Joey…yes love does abound..hers, mine and all the beautiful memories we shared together. Big hugs 🤗❤️🤗
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wow, it is indeed a wonderful & moving tribute to your mother, & i love the warm feelings it evokes for me🥰🌹🥰 makes me think too. i love the way you process & express your feelings so clearly🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼 it’s a meaningful journey, & i thank you for all that you share, some of which fills in the empty places in me & delightfully surprises🎈🎁🎈
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Thank you my soulkin and so happy my words can invoke warm feelings in you. I thank you for seeing and palpitating so profoundly the feelings and memories I share. I do understand your last line, and am so pleased if I can help “fill in” those empty places. Big hugs J. Thank you for seeing me. 🤗❤️🌟❤️🙏💃🏻
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“seeing you” is my pleasure❤️🌹❤️🤗🎈🤗
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Beams like mylar in the sun:)🎈
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Oh dear Karima, such a tender, authentic & powerful piece to your ever-present mother…your beloved mother’s soul had chosen this beautiful date…it’s her way to freely float & to celebrate…and just look at her daughter, she’s truly blessed…pure love is shining in that eternal flame…thank you very much for sharing this heartfelt piece of yours, dear friend 💟 …amazing artwork by amazing Dale 💫
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Yes, my friend, she truly is ever-present within me..Yes I have thought a lot about the date she left us, and it really seems like she was given a gift. Awww thank you dearest Navin, for these beautiful words..I love sharing everything with you. You are so perceptive and sensitive always find the words to tell me how my poems have touched you. It’s an honor to share my life with you, through poetry and chats..You are a trusted and very talented friend in my life. Thank you for being here:)❤️
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The feeling is mutual, my dear friend…it’s an honour for me as well to share my life with you…you’re a wonderful being…an amazing, very talented & creative friend✨❤️💫
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This is so touching and so relatable, Karima! Loss of mother is irreparable. Whenever someone talks of mother, and that too so passionately, I miss my mother. Thank you, Karima! Much love to you ❤️❤️
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Yes, Kaushal,it might be one of the greatest losses, but I really do feel her close. I’m sorry for your loss too. Her memories keep her alive and still burning bright…Much love to you too 🤗🙏❤️
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Beautiful Karishma! I too lost my mother recently …here is my tribute…https://chapter18.wordpress.com/2023/01/13/mother-its-an-honour-to-be-your-children/
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I absolutely love this poem with all of my heart. I was listening to a talk by Thich Nhat Hanh the other day, and he talked about what I read in your line, “You are so alive inside of me” There is such truth and freedom in knowing this, in understanding that all of our ancestors are carried within us. Each one of them. Such an inspirational and beautiful poem, Karima. Amazing. ❤️🤗🌹
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Ohh Jeff, thank you so much and I’m sorry I am just seeing this comment today! Yes I so agree how you say it, “There is such truth and freedom in knowing this, in understanding that all of our ancestors are carried within us”
I feel her sometimes on the molecular level, to the tone of my voice (we used to sound so similar, people were always mistaking us on the phone.) Thank you Jeff, for this sincerely beautiful comment on my Christmas tribute for her. It means so much ❤️ 🤗 ❤️
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Awww, you’re most welcome, Karima. It is an amazing thing to see our ancestors within us. When I look in the mirror sometimes, it’s my dad smiling back at me. ❤️🤗
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Exactly…they are in there:) 🤗
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