Goodbye Tomorrow
Voices murmuring
Faces floating
Unknown place
Bags with tubes
Pain somewhere
Awful pain
Pressure
….
Familiar voice
Familiar face
Beautiful face
Don’t know who
Can’t tell
Hazy
Can’t see clearly
Can’t think
Can’t talk
Hand held
Soft hands
Kindness felt
Lifetime love
Forever love
“I love you”
I know
….
New faces
Voices
male voices
“Dad?”
My father?
No
Their father?
Me?
Sons?
Maybe
Confused
Can’t tell.
Can’t think
Can’t see
Much love
Sobbing
Crying
For whom?
….
Where am I?
The pain
Cool sheets
Too cool
I’m Cold
Warm blanket
Thank you
….
Young woman
Pretty face.
Tears
“Daddy?”
Who?
I know her
Familiar
Can’t think
Misty face
Can’t see
“I love you”
I know
….
More pain
Much more
More pressure
Terrible pressure
Shouting
Running
Can’t breathe
Hands
Pushing
Pushing hard
Loud voices
Weeping
….
Hovering
Detached
Looking down
A man on a bed
Very pale
tubes
Many people
“Clear!”
No more pain
….
Voices.
Sweet voices
Sweet faces
Above
Hovering
I don’t know them
Yet I do know them.
Calling, beckoning
A path
A beautiful path
Just above me
And the light
The beautiful light
The joyous light
But wait
Please wait
A moment
To say goodbye
….
Harsh voices
Desperate voices
“Stay with me!”
“Fight it!”
“Clear!”
Pushing, pushing
Fading
Receding
Far away
Peaceful
….
It is done
Complete
I cannot stay
With you
Whoever you are
I am sorry
I must go now
The sweet faces call me
The light calls me
The joyous light calls me
Home
Goodbye tomorrow
Hello eternity
- Emma Jones - January 28, 2019
- EMPIRE by Will Starr - September 25, 2018
- The Death of Jimmy Walker - July 10, 2017
Oh my gosh! Bill, this is so spiritual – floating in and out, between life and death. Your words show such a vivid picture of the fight for life and the spiritual realm. Beautiful, so beautiful to see a glimpse of what it is like to be in between. Sad and beautiful.
Wow! Will, great poetry. So vivid, and the short lines were perfect to portray this sad time. I can relate as I sat at the bedside of both my mother and father in their final hours. Beautifully done.
I believe that as life fades, so too does our reality and we gifted with the Peace of our Maker to make the transition less frightening. Thank you Phyllis!
I too was there for the passing of my father, and my father-in-law, John. I was very taken by the peace they were granted in their final moments. Thank you.
Clever Bill, and perhaps we all may experience this. Well constructed and poignant look at death, being on the edge and choosing. great work, I enjoyed it.
Thank you, Tony!
Goodbye tomorrow, Hello eternity. You’ve portrayed the joy of release so beautifully….sadness is for those left behind!
Thank you Shalini!
Will,
Wow, this is so beautiful. It is so sad, yet so gloriously happy at the same time! I was mesmerized as I read it. Such great description!
Tamara
Than you, Tamara. I wrote this after my Father-in-Law lost his last battle in the ER. I know he was aware of our presence, but was unable to respond as the angels took him home.