"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

[emmajoygreen]

You know about the cancer gene in my birth family, Gee.. and admit that this superb empathic poem hit me straight between the brows. A rarely said wow, from me.. but it brings back quite a few memories when talk between siblings was often the cruel to be kind type. Won't go into details.. but the similarities between your magnificent language and.. made post-dawn and Em cry. And yes, if humans were horses.. but sadly humans are allowed the rights to their own pain. Can I say thank you..

[Gee]

Thank you for your kind words, and yes many of us have had to endure loved ones suffering their way to eternal release, it would be much kinder...
Hope you are well and sporting factor 30 :)

[emmajoygreen]

I am indeed, Just put on a bit more because about to take Madame-dog out for a walk! Beautiful weather as long as no hotter in an hour. Enjoy your freedom-day!

[emmajoygreen]

Whilst such thoughts as above never quite go away, hoping and praying you can find happier memories, Gee.

[Poetic Beauty]

It is never easy to watch a loved one wither away into what can not be recognized and linger on before eventually slipping away to the next plane. It is torture for loved ones.

This poem shows the harder side of the end of life.

[Gee]

Thank you PB

[Arundass TP]

I like the repeated line

If she was a horse.


Nice poem

[Gee]

Thank you..

[Andra Davis]

A Dutch aunt of mine chose the injection. It was easy to opt for as she was with painful head cancer. Still a tough one. Nicely written.

[Gee]

Thank you Andra

[John the Baptist]

Ironically, I had a conversation about this very topic this AM with a friend whose mother is wasting away from an incurable disease. Cats were the animal examples used, but the philosophy was the same. If killing an animal can be seen as an act of mercy, why should human beings be made to suffer?

[Marie]

My heart broke as I read this heart breaking and emotionally painful write, dear Gee. The trauma of watching someone so loved slipping away little by little, bit by bit is excruciating! I went through it with both my parents, bless them. The profound sadness never goes away. So poetically you narrate the last days of this beautiful lady, now almost beyond recognition, just waiting for her day to come when she can leave the earth plane and return home to Spirit. You have captured the hospital atmosphere in excellent visual detail. We all enter this world with an expiry date which we have chosen for ourselves in our Book of Life before we came, while still in Spirit and we have also chosen how, when and where, but things must be an awful lot easier when we are in Spirit and make such decisions, because they are anything but easy when we are in the human world. I can sense the pain behind this write. I am sad having read it three times, but it is comforting to know at the end of the suffering and pain, our loved ones are safely home in Spirit, healed and always with us. A wonderful poem, but I am not going to lie dear Gee, there was no joy for me in reading it, but I am so happy you got the words out of your head and down on paper. You did a truly amazing job, dear Gee. Thank you so v-e-r-y much for sharing, dear friend...

[Gee]

Thank you Marie, hope all is well in the land of the leprechaun

[Marie]

Most welcome always, Gee. Yes, all is well on The Emerald Isle...

[Patricia]

I love this, it is beautiful sadness. excellent writing of emotion

[Patricia]

oh, and I think you meant to write "too big" in line three and not "to big"

[DIVYA]

A profoundly moving poem on the hopelessness of a terminal illness, the heartbreak and desperation that comes with it. Sometimes, even animals have it better. The despair is deeper as this is a most personal kind of suffering and the pain of which has to be kept away from prying eyes. Indeed, a swift and peaceful end would be such a welcome one.
I usually resist the idea of euthanasia but your poem has made such a compelling cause for it. I agree!
A great poem Gee.

[Gee]

Thank you Divya

[Ken Simm.]

I find this so sad. It is in fact heartbreaking. So much so that I cannot be said to enjoy it. But its writing certainly justifies its existance. As does the many points it makes. Points I certainly agree with.
It is a remarkable write.

[Gee]

Thank you Ken.
Hope all is well North of the wall