The Passing

The change, it comes so slowly

Like the winter of our lives,

It encroaches while we’re playing,

While we’re laughing with our wives,

As the children wave goodbye

The first brief chill will still the air,

And that silence settles on us

As they turn, and close the door.

 

Then we stare long at each other

But we find no words to say,

You have been the faithful mother

That I married, back some way,

But I see your smile has faded

With the passing of the years,

And you turn your face away so I

Won’t see that trace of tears.

 

Are you thinking of that moment

When you held that new born child,

Of the joy of those first steps, or of

The day your baby smiled?

And the schooling and the learning

And the knees they brought home skinned,

Or the pride you took each time you watched

That graduation film.

 

While I find my own thoughts turning

To those days before we wed,

To your awesome, breathless beauty

As you passed, and turned my head,

Of that first-time kiss I savoured

Out beneath the apple tree,

When I took you to my heart, and you

First said you wanted me.

 

Now we’re grey, and more like shadows

Since the lust in us has died,

And we rarely touch each other

Since we turned to ash inside,

For the years of work and struggle

Took their toll on you and I,

And I hear you every evening as

You go outside to cry.

 

All those dreams that ended shattered,

All those hopes that turned to tears,

Here we sit, both disillusioned

With the tolling of the years,

And we pass our friends unseeing

As we wander in the street,

We are ghosts, a long time passing

Now our story is complete.

 

We are like the leaves of autumn

That have fallen from the trees,

Blowing through our days unspoken

With each passing, gentle breeze,

We will fade and be forgotten

In the long term way of things,

But we’ll cling in desperation for

What each last moment brings.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Deborah Brooks-Langford]

David.. wow..another poem that tears my heart out. geezzz I am in those years... this poem means so much to me.. gee can i explain???? how time takes away so much from our lives..from being disillusion to so many tears... wishing we could have love back the way it used to be... wow.. what can I say... GREAT WRITING... I LOVE IT... You just not know how much,.. I am a new fan of yours...

Debbie

[quinfinn]

the only thing i can not relate to in this is my own experience. other than that it fits perfectly my perception of an aging couple who have both lost their passion for each other but still have a genuine and enduring love. another perfectly solid write!

[Dr. Wood ?]

you hit the spot again sir with your usual rhythmic style

[Patricia B. Hepler]

This is a beautiful insight into the November of our lives..
Excellent.
*pat

[David Scott]

David my friend, this write is brings my heart to the surface of my skin. It is a fate we all will see if we do not meet a sooner demise... Humble, honest, and introspective write. I want to scream this is not the truth, but I know it is. My hope is that it is only part of the truth...
A very worthwhile write and read on many levels.
Be well and may we all enjoy each moment as it is all we have.

[Mary]

Such beauty and truth in your words, David. So sad that she cries when she has accomplished the most important mission of all, love of husband, love of family. Your poem has brought me to tears, as I can relate each beautiful verse

[MOON]

Poignant write. This touches the heart in so many ways.

[Elizabeth]

Wow. This is such a moving piece! You are such a wonderful writer!

[emmy bon]

nice story sir

[de_maruf]

fine

[Dayran]

From the young man in Wales who killed the husband of the woman he loved to that of the phantom in the carnival, the ghostly hunter of giants, the flippant captain of the boat ..... and many others, you David, may well have chosen as your vocation the role of care giver of the world.

You couldn't have chosen anything more difficult, not by denying the sweetness of your own joys and happiness. But such is your choice from the land without mountain peaks. I envy you conger. May the lord bless and keep you in your devotion.