If you’re a regular reader, you may know that the last few years have been particularly difficult for me. After a brutal battle with pancreatic cancer, my father died on Thanksgiving Day in 2021. Then, last spring one of my dearest friends received a dire diagnosis. She died in June. This past October my stepmother unexpectedly died. With one personal loss after another, on top of so much going on in our world at large, it’s been hard to regain any sort of balance and retain it.
I have many, many blessings in my life and much joy, but one of the greatest of them all is my husband, Kurt. Throughout all of this, he has been an incredible support. He’s been loyal, loving, steadfast and true. Our marriage (almost 34 years now!) has had its ups and downs, but overall, his presence in my life has enriched it and has made me a better person. I am beyond thankful for him.
Groundwater
I depend upon
your constant presence
your steady, vital flow
like earth’s pulse
percolating
through permeable rock
immeasurable
invaluable
sustaining, free-flowing
you.
©Molly Hogan
holiday shopping
my hand entwined with yours
best gift of all
©Molly Hogan
Wishing you all the best of the season. May you have someone in your life who cherishes and supports you. Who makes you laugh. Who holds you when you cry. And who walks beside you in the sunlight and in the darker hours.
The Poetry Friday Roundup this week is hosted by Karen Edmisten. Be sure to stop by and read the poem she’s sharing there: “Be Kind” by Michael Blumenthal..
Nix the comfort zone 
Thank you, Molly. I hope this holiday season gives you many reasons to smile. Your husband, by the way, is undoubtedly pretty fond of you as well. It’s nice to have someone with whom you can hold hands!
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Thanks, Tim. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. I’m looking forward to having all my kids at our house for the first time in a long time 🙂 There are sure to be plenty of smiles!
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It will be great to have them home — best wishes to all of you!
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What a blessing your union is! Having Kurt there as your groundwater is a refreshing metaphor for a relationship that sustains you. Happy Holidays!
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It is! Happy holidays to you and yours! (I keep waiting for the baby news!!!)
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This was a delight to read.
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Thank you!
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Kurt is da man! It’s funny as our marriages mature, the loving support between spouses makes for rich lives together. One more thing. You got to be thinking that Dan has suggested an idea for my retirement for quite some time. Fret not. What about making note cards with your favorite poems (I’d vote for this one.) for your future correspondence? A packet of such cards could be gifts for friends. No need to thank me now. And I am talking about when you retire.
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Retirement is a far off dream for me, Dan! Still, I’ll keep taking suggestions. Thanks! 🙂
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Molly, what a beautiful tribute and metaphor your poem is of Kurt! He’s a keeper. I love your haiku, too especially this line “my hand entwined with yours.” I imagine he feels the same way about you. I am fortunate also to have a supportive husband, who holds me when I cry, makes me laugh, and holds my hand. Congratulations on your almost 34 years of marriage! That is wonderful! Thank you for your warm wishes, your beautiful tribute poem, and your inspiration.
Happy Holidays and happy vacation from school! Enjoy spending time in nature capturing photos, of birds, of animals, and winter scenes. Take time to breathe, grieve, and rest. You are in my thoughts and prayers. In fact, almost every time I see a bird, I think of you or Fran Haley. Earlier my cat and I, were gifted a merry song from a house finch through the window. 🙂
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Hi Gail, I love that you think of me when you see birds 🙂 and I love that you take time to appreciate the gift of a “merry song from a house finch.” Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!
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Love this post about you Kurt. I love the term groundwater because it so perfectly describes steadfast husbands. I know I am thankful for mine. Thanks for the reminder!
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Thank you. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with your steadfast husband 🙂
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I’m glad you have someone who walks with you in sunlight and those darker hours. May you share more of those days of entwined hands.
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I’m enjoying the light of the season with him right now, and wishing you bright days as well!
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Molly, I am so sorry for your many losses in recent years. Even though I read you fairly regularly, I must have missed these trying experiences. I want to give you a virtual hug! You are lucky to have a constant like Kurt. Husbands like him are a rare and special treasure. (I’m glad I have one too). I love the tribute poetry for him. Thank you, Carol
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Thanks, Carol. I tried not to post too much here as much of what I’ve written in the past year has tended toward dark. I appreciate the virtual hug. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!
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Well, it sounds like you’ve been through a lot, Molly. I’m sorry for that. We did visit your home state in September and loved it. We hiked in Acadia and also Mt. Kineo near Moosehead Lake. Bar Harbor was a little commercial for us as was Boothbay Harbor, but still a great trip! I hope you have some Happy Holidays and a happier 2023. Take care.
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So much love in these two poems! You are lucky to have this “groundwater,” this rock, this hand to hold, this partner.
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I am so lucky!
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My goodness, Molly. Groundwater is such a love poem…”earth’s pulse…you” is so stinkin’ beautiful. What a lucky girl you are.
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I am, indeed! Thanks, Linda!
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This is not Dan; it’s Hannah! Who loves reading your words as much as Dan does. Looks like you and I both won the husband lottery…and they didn’t do so bad either, did they? AND, I love Dan’s idea of notecards – with your poetry and photos of which we have several and treasure. Speaking of treasure…you and Kurt have found it, and continue to (re-)create it.
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Hannah! How lovely to “see” you here! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. You and Dan are high on my list of relationship mentors! Together you bring such light to the world and to those around you. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
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Molly, I do feel I knew a little about Kurt already, but this pair of poems gives a deep sense of your connection, both in the daily lighter sense and the long darker sense. May it last long for both of you!
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What a year, Molly. I’m so sorry for the many painful losses you’ve endured. It can indeed be hard to regain our footing when we’ve been knocked down by grief so many times in such quick succession. What a beautiful tribute to the man who has been by your side through all of it. I especially loved:
your steady, vital flow
like earth’s pulse
percolating
through permeable rock
I can relate and could apply this to my husband, my rock through some really tough situations in the last five years. Here’s to regaining and retaining some new balance in 2023. ❤️
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Thanks for sharing your heartfelt poem Molly, I like your metaphor of water and how sustaining it is. Life and marriage are both journeys of paths we don’t always know, having this supportive relationship is indeed a gift and blessing. Wishing you and your family Calm, Joy, and Happy Holidays!
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I’m so sorry about the difficult times, but I love this tribute to your husband! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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