Time Waits For No One

Death is knocking at her door, my dear friend greets him warmly. Come in, come in...it's time to go home.

She’s wasting away to nothing,

A shell of skin, bones, and air.

Cancer eats her from the inside out

Consuming every last drop.

Brave whispers and pats on the back,

She comforts those around her.

It should be the other way around,

In her last days, moments,

Seconds.

 

I breathe in full of sorrow

As she breathes out her life.

She calls me her angel,

As I sit by her side.

Holding her hand desperately

Wanting selfishly to keep her bound.

Tethered to this earthly dirt,

There’s never enough time.

Ever.

 

Her father sobs his heart,

Pleading and questioning God.

He’s losing his wife, too,

While his daughter lays wasting.

Dementia or alzheimer’s,

Who’s to say what’s what.

All he knows is she doesn’t remember,

Can’t see, can’t read, can’t comfort,

As her daughter lays dying,

While her husband is weeping.

 

So the sand runs through

The hourglass so fragile.

Time continuously ticks,

It’s ever-present sounding gong.

I watch the scene before me,

A broken family with no hope.

It’s moments like this I ask,

I weep and gnash and plead,

God....why?

 

Silence of a benevolent hand,

Brushing my shoulder soft.

A tendril slip of breeze,

Caressing softly round my cheek.

Embraced by His love so profound,

I know the answers well.

Time waits for no one,

Urging us to heed its call,

Live.

Author's Note

My friend is moments away from passing to the next life from cancer. Her mother is fading fast into dementia. Her father is bearing the cross of it all. My heart is weeping, my sorrow is full. ***UPDATE-PAM PASSED AWAY TODAY 10/1/11

Written for Pam McLaughlin, Len McLaughlin, and Peg McLaughlin
9/30/11

Happy Birthday, Pam....I love you.

Reviews

[EMF]

Heartfelt and painful. A grounding of emotionas and yes, an inevitable tear. You have done your friend a great service and justice here my friend. And it's not a question of poetry or prose, but my thoughts are with you. Thank you for sharing what must have been a difficult piece to write.

[Samuel Dickens]

A trip we all must take, a destiny we travel towards our entire lives, but still, no one really wants to take that final step. I watched my dad succumb to cancer and now my oldest sister is in stage four. One day there'll be a cure.

[alwaysthere]

It's honest

[Barbara Lynne]

This must have been so difficult for you to share...I am thankful that you know Him who hold all the answers...and my prayers are with you and the McLaughlin family...

[Ronn Michael Salinas]

oh, live. try doing that in an honest and harmless way.

[STAR CHILD]

oh this is sad and brings back memories my soul mate died of breast cancer

[Luke Ritta]

powerfull work....well done.

[Chris Taylor]

I seriously a couple of "man-tears" while reading this one. If there is a better poem about losing the battle on this earthly plane and the effect it has on the loved ones left behind, I've never read it. You should be very proud of this poem. I would be!!! I rated this very, very high.

[Forest Green]

Nothing so saddens the soul as finding out that life seemingly of its own determination will soon end. Heartbreaking poem, yet poetic.

My best to all...

Steel

[Jeremy Baker]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. It puts it all in perspective, the more so when reading your wonderful tribute.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I can feel every ounce of sorrow through your words... although death is the only guaranteed thing in life it will always be the hardest thing to face. That poor guy facing two at one time, I can't even imagine. My thoughts and prayers goes out to the family.