"If she were a horse"

By the end, her end, skin once worn tightly
hung as if two sizes too big for the bones beneath.
Eyes that once shone brighter than stars
were now dulled, yellow, beneath lids that seldom
If ever opened as drug induced sleep
the kindest way to...

"If she were a horse they'd shoot her,
would be kinder..." her husband of 50+ years said,
desperation, bitterness his tone.
"If she were a horse..." his voice trailing away
echoing off walls that never saw the light of day,
drawn curtains keeping his grief, sadness, from prying eyes,
keeping if for him and him alone as her heart had been, will be,
will always be whether in this life or whatever lay beyond death.

" if she were a horse..."
tears falling easily, sorely.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

while it is a very sombre piece, i admire how straight-forward and matter-of-fact the persona is. watching as a loved one slowly withers away is heart-breaking time, although one that cannot be avoided. there is a subtle acceptance of death, while also a strong resistance to sufferring. these are completely valid feelings one may have, and there is no way to console, one can only sit with them and share the air between them. a very austere work, but one that is very memorable.

[Beccy]

It is easier to come to terms with what might lie in the future, rather than face the stark reality of the here and now. Old will ever give way to new and age is inevitable, as are the effects of ageing; but I truly believe that even if it seems not to be the case, whilst there is one last beat of the heart left, the spirit remains strong to the very end.

My father is 78 next birthday and he and my mother first met in 1967, then married in 1971, so your (50+ years,) line, really struck a chord with me.

Beccy.

[Gee]

Hi Becky, hope you are both well.
Thanks for dropping in.
Am spending more and more time in your neck of the woods as Persimmon spreads its wings :)

[Lisasview]

Good morning from rather dark Spain,
I see you are on line and as I am now just back to reading, reviewing and posting I thought i would reconnect with you.
This is such sad poem about loss...
These lines especially pulled at my heart strings.
drawn curtains keeping his grief, sadness, from prying eyes,
keeping if for him and him alone as her heart had been, will be,
will always be whether in this life or whatever lay beyond death.
and these lines I relate to...
keeping if for him and him alone as her heart had been, will be,
will always be whether in this life or whatever lay beyond death.
A year or more ago I wrote Forevermore...not sure if you read it but it is about my own death and your poem brought back the memories of my poem.
Hoping al is well with you and yours,
Lisa

[Gee]

Good morning Lisa, have not long gotten home from a week spent eating and drinking under the Mallorcan sunshine, so good:)
Thank you for dropping in and leaving a comment, this most appreciated.

[Lisasview]

Oh we were just there!!!
Too bad we did not know you were there ...perhaps we could have met up....
Lisa

[Thomas W Case]

Beautiful and sad. Very well crafted, Gee.

[Gee]

Thanks for dropping in Thomas

[Philip Gaber]

Very terse, beautiful, strangely endearing...

[Gee]

Thank you philip

[Betty Hermelee]

Melancholic piece...here is much said about suffering with a painful disease...and quality of life...some want to end quickly and others are fighters...what to say about the family? in this case, its seems like the husband wanted to shoot her like a horse and be done! A very debated subject about end of life...i think it's up to the individual before he/she is in terrible distress... a fine write Gee,
Warmly, B

[Gee]

Thank you Betty, hope you are well

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome
Warmly, B

[Betty Hermelee]

You are very welcome🌷hope you are well too!
Warmly, B