Her Right To Choose

Once bitten..

This time, unlike the last, she didn't tell,
instead deciding it was her right to choose,
not her partners, ex husband, daughter or sons right, it was hers.
Without a shadow of a doubt this would be perceived as selfish,
but when all was said and done it wasn't them that had to endure.

By the time she did tell them it was too late,
three months of life left, palliative care only required.
There were tears, anger, frustration,
but eventually an understanding and acceptance.
She had lived a long and happy life,
had raised a family, become both a grand and great grand mother,
so what point an extra 6 months of life,
especially if lived chemically aided and ill.
In her mind no point whatsoever.

The day before her death she shared a bottle of wine
with her daughter and female partner of 25 years.
She was bright, alert, but tired quickly.
Her final goodbyes were said that afternoon, but without words,
as all three knowing that her time would be soon stilled.
The following day, whilst sleeping, she slipped peacefully away.

Author's Note

This tale was relayed to me and my wife on a flight home from our holiday by the daughter of the lady about whom this was written.

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Gee for sharing this story. She was a brave woman and sensible too. I have already decided that would be my path should I have to choose (I have the gene). A sensitively told story in verse.

[Einstein Noodle]

it is certainly a choice .. the strength i see in this poem is the acceptance ... the gentle comfort and assurance this fine lady must have felt ... to simply lay down for sleep and pass over has to be about the best way ever to go .. i tell me kids i am going to simply walk into the forest and fade until invisible ;) dying can also be painful and terrifying ... but death itself is not :) thanks for sharing this personal story from that "daughter" ... just wondering ... was she a stranger to your wife? ..
E.

[Gee]

Hi E thanks. She was a stranger to us both but shared a row of 3 seats( and a few glasses of wine) on a plane for 2 1/2 hours on a flight back from Portugal.

[Einstein Noodle]

mmmmmmmmmm funny how ..when the Spirit is there ..strangers can be so meaningful to one another ... must have blessed you all :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

You turned this brave woman s choice to a most eloquent voice. I'm so glad I found this moving piece.

[Gee]

Thank you kindly

[angel]

That, my friend, is a fine piece of writing; and a fine way to go.
I hope that, when I die, it will be while I am sleeping, and having a lovely dream.

[Gee]

Me too, at the wheel of a 52 seater coach full of people who have pissed me off during my lifetime :))
Thank you Angel

[angel]

My, my... vengeful, aintcha!

[Lorry]

Who are we to judge others wishes, especially their last? But we do anyway, perhaps through the impotence that knowing brings a finality that few are willing to comprehend. I do hope when my time comes I go peacefully, without much fuss. Either that or a drug fuelled sex heart attack. Any of which are fine by me.
Beautifully captured my friend. Softly whispered words of what we all must face.

[Gee]

I think the drug fuelled orgy your best bet :))
Cheers Lorry

[alanwgraham]

Wow Gee. I've just written a reply about our difficulty with death and I have found this great piece of writing. We can only applaud the brave old lady in her decision and would that we could all approach our end in this way. You have done very well in telling this in a very matter of fact way.
Excellent work,
Regards,
Alan

[Gee]

Thanks Alan, glad you approve

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

I think that this is the best way to go and one I would choose ...if I could...The rest of us seem kinda greedy always wanting one more chance begging for more time, more love, more goodbyes. Im not sure if life is fufilled that way...maybe its suppose to have more mystery. Highly evolved piece! Thanks for the share Gee!

[Gee]

Thank you for your thoughts ma'am :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Such a sad story, but one I understand. Many do not want to have radiation or chemo after finding out they have surgery. It should absolutely be the choice of the patient, no one else. No one else has to endure the side effects. Written with great empathy. Lydi**

[Gee]

Thank you Lydia

[Benson Osuji]

Beautiful poem, conveys the pain makes me remember my grandma who left us without a goodbye

[Gee]

I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you for your thoughts, words.

[Benson Osuji]

Thanks, please review my own works and tell me what you think

[Maria20]

She had all the right, but we get to keep the pain. Why didn't she just tell us?, we would have prepared for the loss better than we had. There is probably much we could have said, or even shared, the held emotions, our hope that she might live to survive this!

Its a lovely, touching poem Gee

[Gee]

This was the second time the lady had been diagnosed with cancer and didn't want to suffer the treatment again.
Thank you for commenting Maria