Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Journey's End


Skin, like parchment
Translucent
Sagging now as if there is too much to cover
Although there isn’t much left at all

Mouth gaping
Brow furrowed as if in concentration
Breathing has become the most important thing in her life
Slip, slip, slipping away

And yet...she lingers

Ben Johnson said that time is an “old, bald cheater”
And I say that death is a relentless, gray stalker
Shadowing our footsteps
Dogging us down the days

It is not her nature to “go gentle into that good night”
Not because of fear, or lack of faith
She fights
She fights because even now, she isn’t really ready to go

And so, she lingers, because I just know she’d love...

One more game of Skip-Bo with her best friend
One more opportunity to see Jeopardy
One more trip “downtown”
One more bouquet of pink carnations

One more trip to Dallas, or Spokane
One more chance to laugh and scream with her girls
One more hug from her grand and great-grandchildren
One more meal at Taco Bell

Still, she lingers

Loved by most
Adored by many
Treasured by her family
Our lives enriched incalculably

Softly now
Peace, sweet peace
Only steps away
From journey’s end

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