Kristena Tunstall

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Kristena Tunstall > Poetry > Rhyming > T’was the Night Before Our Lives Changed

Posted on March 3, 2009 By Mommy's Angel in Heaven

T’was the Night Before Our Lives Changed

I am asking for everyone’s help. I have rewritten a poem that is a dedication to Mari. If everyone could please read it and give me your comments, I would appreciate it more than you know. I have also put “T’was the Night Before Christmas” below my poem so you can put them side by side. My hope is that you feel my poem matches up with this poem. Thanks in advance for everyone’s help with this. Kristena

T’was the night before our lives changed, forever in our house,
No one could have known, not even a mouse.
For our hopes hung in the balance with all human care,
In the hopes that our prayers would be answered right there.

The people who loved her went off to their beds,
While they laid there and slept or prayed in their heads.
And daddy had his hope, and mommy had her fears,
Because the next morning might bring about our tears.

We arose the next morning to hear so much clatter,
As we were not sure what was the matter.
We flew to her side in such a quick rush,
But there just seemed to be this great big hush.

The sun seemed to rise and show us its glow,
As those that loved her were waiting below.
We all hoped that our waiting would bring us good cheer,
But that miracle we were waiting for didn’t seem to appear.

For we could not believe she had gotten so sick,
It seems like it had happened all too quick.

More rapid than thought possible when it had come,
It seems like all that knew her were becoming quite numb.

We all cried out, “How could this be,
For she’s not to go before any of us let alone me.”
It seems like we hit a great brick wall,
For we knew God had a plan, for her and for all.

Our time was slipping, it seemed to fly by,
We hoped she was not headed for heaven in the sky.
Because if she was it seemed like she flew,
With pieces of our heart and our love for her too.

Then in a moment, her fate had been sealed,
For we all knew she could not be healed.
The unbelievable had happened, and it was all too real,
We were losing her to heaven, we had no appeal.

We dressed her one final time from her head to her toe,
Her clothes were so precious, she had such a glow.
She had all those that loved her there by her side,
As we all held her close, and sobbingly cried.

Her eyes always twinkled! Her smiles were so merry!
Her cheeks were so rosy, she could fly like a fairy!
With her mommy holding her tight as she took her final breath,
Daddy was there too, as we lost her in death.

You could see she was at peace as she left us for heaven,
It was a relief to know she was already forgiven.
Because she had autism, God knew she was special,
She was just like sunshine, or even a rose petal.

Once she had made it up to heaven with cheer,
She saw those she loved on earth with a tear.
She sent down this message to those that she loves,
“I will see you soon here in heaven along with God’s doves.”

What words can we speak to portray the loss we feel?
At least it gives us peace to know she has God’s seal.
God’s seal is so special, as it means she’s with Him,
Because without this hope, life would be so grim.

We all sprang by her side, to say one final goodbye,
Even though her spirit had already left for the sky.
It seems she exclaimed, as she left us that night,
“I love you all so much, and all of you will be alright.”

You now are our angel, looking down from above,
As you look after us all, with all of your love.
To think of you up there, gives us all so much peace,
Because one day soon, we’ll be reunited with thee.

Now the other poem:

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

 

Life In General...

March 9, 2009 Mommy's Angel in Heaven 0
I was just sitting here thinking tonight about life in general. The last 8 months have been more than I ever thought possible. Two days before Mari had gotten sick, my mom’s brother, my Uncle Ray died in his sleep. I believe he was only 62 or 63 years old.…
 

To The Love Of My Life - married 15 years February 18

February 22, 2009 Mommy's Angel in Heaven 0
To the man I love You are my partner, my friend You are the one I choose to not live my life without You have become my everything I don’t know exactly when this happened But you are why I am here today You have shown me what patience looks…

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Comments

  1. Julie Hintz says

    March 3, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Okay, here's my feedback: It creates a really unsettling juxtaposition to be using the Night Before Christmas as a template just because it's supposed to be a happy poem, with fun surprises in the night, and the one about Mari is SOOOO opposite of that. It's especially jarring because your cadence is so right on for the Night Before Christmas that the reader can't help having that cheery poem in the back of his/her head while s/he is reading this really sad poem about Mari. Your poem definitely matches up with the original poem, and it's definitely a really touching poem that you wrote, so if you're intentionally creating the juxtaposition, you nailed it. It's a really sweet dedication and once again really shows what a good writer you are. Hope that's the kind of feedback you were looking for.

  2. Mommy's Angel In Heaven says

    March 3, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Thank you so much. Yes that is what I was looking for. I am going to be turning this into a competition at my community college. Thanks again.

  3. Deb Lyseng says

    April 17, 2009 at 9:01 am

    I read your poem and loved it. I hope it helped you in your grief. Sometimes just expressing how you feel on paper helps so much. I hope the days and weeks have helped to ease your pain. Don't forget it but rejoice that you had the experience of knowing your daughter and that you loved her very much.

  4. Sylvia Bray says

    November 25, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    Beautiful, Kris – makes me cry as I remember those days, yet breathe with the hope you express! Thank you for sharing – both for sharing Mari and for your poem!

  5. Carmen Hernandez Lopez says

    November 26, 2009 at 1:58 am

    It is just as beautful the 2nd time around. God Bless you Kristena!

  6. Stacie Hammons says

    November 26, 2009 at 2:33 am

    Im sorry you are so sad at this time of year. No one nows what your are going through unless they have lost too. I hope you two can find some kind of peace she will always be with you. Happy Holidays

  7. Lori Woodill says

    November 26, 2009 at 8:45 am

    Happy Thanksgiving! !My heart and prayers go out to you this holiday season.Enjoy your lives knowing she is in a far better place. Know that her peace and love will keep you and that everyday is one day closer to being reunited!

  8. Brian Paradowski says

    November 27, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    Kris,Wow what a piece of wonderful poetry. It so pains us to know that you are hurting at this time of year and we hope that all of your writings bring you peace. We are glad you share with us your thoughts.Brian & Tracy Paradowski

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