Halfway To Heaven

A mother and son, age and illness

For many years now this her place,
a tightrope walked unsteadily between life and death.
Stooped by both age and illness she sees no way forward,
planning no further than the next meal,
her life lived ever in the now.
This existence she only ever briefly escapes
with turned pages and dreams revealing what could could been,
had she not had 2 failed marriages, 9 kids, many jobs,
and many, many, more lonely nights.
On good days her mind, wit, has her tongue running humorous rings around us,
on bad, she falters, trips on words, forgets, "What was I saying.."
We drink tea, I get the latest death count,
"He/she was only," and then an age applied.
At her lowest, when most ill, I asked what gives her the strength to carry on,
if she was afraid of dying, she laughed.
"I'm not afraid of death, I fear only what I'll miss when dead, I'm to nosy to die"
And so she carries on, precariously balanced, halfway to heaven,
with me prepared,
stood down,
prepared,
stood down,
but never really ready.

Author's Note

At the time of writing this mum was on the up from yet another illness. Sadly mum passed away on 09/04/2019

Reviews

[Beccy]

We are such frail creatures in the grand scheme of things; but, I'm to nosy to die" are the words that stay with me as I read this. They show that the human spirit, the zest for discovery, is the drive that will one day take us to the stars.

Beccy.

PS. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[Gee]

Thank you Beccy

[barleygirl]

This is brilliant! I love the realistic terms, but each one freshly stated. There are many poems posted here about this topic, but this is one of the best & most original to me. The 3rd stanza is so true-to-life, could be any older person doing this! And this little snippet: "I'm to nosy to die" -- perfect reveal! I love the title & I feel the title, plus I like the way you used it in last stanza (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Gee]

Thank you. This is as true to life as it gets having had these conversations many a time on my twice weekly visits to see Mum. The last stanza really tells of the many times we thought she was gonna pop her clogs but refuses to give in. Now 82, Mum still has great wit and loves an audience, must be where I get it fom

[barleygirl]

This poem makes me feel as if I know your mum! *smile*

[Gee]

You’d love her as she would you. Thank you

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Beautiful we are all half way really from the day we born some go sooner than others I've lost both parents all my aunties uncles bar one a sister a good g f and grandparents and age is to be embraced not feared if we age it means we not dead yet sorry you have to see her she and get sick it is heartbreaking I know you cherish her I can tell go make some memories with her take lots of pics xx. Good poem very good

[Gee]

Thank you kindly J.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

a sensitive and sharply well described work Gee, You give us a personal account of watching your mother's aging process and the way in which this affects others.

[Gee]

Cheers John, I think she'll outlive us all

[AriesGirl]

Beautiful, thought-provoking, and certainly not disjointed. This poem truly makes you think about the later years in a person's life and how complex they really are. Thank you for providing a wonderful read.

[Gee]

Thank you for your kind comments.

[Ghania]

"2 failed marriages, 7 kids, many jobs,
many more lonely nights,
respite only when her brood briefly fostered."

Very Well-written. :)

[Gee]

Again thank you..

[Lady Glitter]

I like this, "Stooped by age she sees no way forward,
living ever in the now, a routine existence
from which she escapes only ever briefly,
leafed pages revealing what might have been
had she not .....

2 failed marriages, 7 kids,"

This is a poignant verse about that time in life that most of us reach, and all of us expect to reach. It is for sure a limbo time for most. This poem is not disjointed. It is free verse, and it reads like we think, which is a good thing.

You might like my poem "One Day She'll Be Gone". Thanks for reviewing my poem "Pumpkins & Chilly Nights". I liked your description, so unique and strange, but intriguing, but surprisingly accurate.

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Melinda McQueen]

This not only makes you think, but feel. Well done.

[Gee]

Thank you..