Prompt from One Single Impression.
Your eyes held questions;
Mine, no answers.
It’s time to let go, you said.
I remember holding your frigid hand
While your breath began to slow
And tremble.
I tried to be the strong one,
Holding back tears,
But they came anyway.
You kissed my cheek as your skin
Yellowed.
Your smile gave me hope, though,
And you told me it was okay.
As your breath faltered,
Life continued to move.
[Story behind the poem: Trying. I wasn't actually there when she passed, but I did come back shortly after, and I held her cold hands. Her skin was yellowing because her liver was failing (the last thing to go); her body was cold because her blood was barely flowing; she went peacefully, though. She was ready.]
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
This is beautifully written and made me tear up.
This is very sad, but after reading your other posts I have both sadness and hope in my heart. great writing.
Ah, well done, well done!
That life does continue is somehow a comfort.
nice to see you doing OSI
you’ve captured this very well..
i like the lines:
You kissed my cheek as your skin
Yellowed.
Emotions come through so well.
washed by words
It helps to heal, when one can say goodbye to love ones as they are passing, because the truth is, life does continue, it never ends with death.
Ah, nice one here! This does conjure up sadly, those farewells-