Can I still stay for a moment?

Dying is only one thing to be sad over... Living unhappily is something else. Morrie Schwartz

Shy, I come closer,

Feeling guilty

I invade your world

Or what is left of it.

 

A bed,

A chair,

A wardrobe.

 

The sheets pale as your face,

Your hands wrinkled,

Diaphanous as a parchment,

Your veins draw a map

 

The roads you have travelled,

Full of potholes and falling,

Hoping against hope,

 

Rising

            Up

                        Again

                       

                                   Now,

                        Not

Anymore

 

There is a haze laying upon your eyes,

An image of the other side,

A sea full of waving corn,

Light as yellow

And ripe as the sun that is sowed,

As milk, fresh from the cow’s udder.

 

A day to harvest.

 

I know, without you saying it,

I can read it

In the tears on your cheek,

I can hear it

In the breath on your trembling lips.

 

It’s high time to go,

But I don’t want to leave,

Not yet.

 

Can I still stay for a moment?

You want to ask me.

All I can do, is swallow my sorrow.

 

© Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere

05/07/2015

Author's Note

Reviews

[maricoona91]

This is really powerful and makes me think about what it is to be close to death.

Do you have any of your Dutch poems here? I took a few years of Dutch in my university because I'm a big fan of Nederland. It would be fun to see if I could decipher some Dutch poetry!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

I have a blog and there the poems are as well in Dutch as in English.
http://lejaeghererudi.blogspot.be/

Thank you for reading and the interest in my writings. :) Rudi

[Samaira]

I always love your poems. You are describing a moment of sorrow, yet, it is so peaceful. Like the person has or is trying to come to terms with it. I like the line - I invade your world or what is left of it. It's beautiful.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Mannat, for reading and reviewing. Have a good weekend. :) Rudi

[Ruth]

Many could possibly relate to such a time...softly portrayed with elegance and tender imagery...

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you so much, Poppy Ruth Silver, for passing by, reading and reviewing my poem. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[marcus]

beautiful and sad, I loved it!!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Marcus, for reading my poem. :) Rudi

[emmajoy]

Methinks like a great many people, I've been at this bedside. You've laid the words with such gentleness, almost under-stating the strength of need, of wanting to hold that person closer, firmer, forever.. yet knowing you have to let go. That darling being, wanting to stay, holding on to precious times.. oh my, tears in the words you've gently painted, Rudi..

'An image of the other side,
A sea full of waving corn,
Light as yellow
And ripe as the sun that is sowed,
As milk, fresh from the cow’s udder.

A day to harvest.'

Shhhhhh.. peace comes.. somehow.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Emma, glad you liked my poem, really appreciated. :) Rudi

[sereenaoutloud]

oh wow Rudi this so powerful , beautiful and tugged at my heart and left tears in my eyes!
Just so sad yet stunning write!! :)

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you so much, Sereena, glad you liked it; really appreciated. :) Rudi

[Kelly Scheppers]

There is a pulse to this one, my friend. It made my heart skip a beat.

Oh Rudi, this is breathless and beautiful beyond words!

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Kelly, for reading and reviewing. Have a good day. :) Rudi

[Robert]

Rudi, Oh my gosh!! This is my favorite poem of yours so far. This is just so sad but such a good poem the way you wrote it and the word choices were excellent.

"Can I still stay for a moment?
You want to ask me.
All I can do, is swallow my sorrow."

It all comes down to a moment. Throughout life moments come and go and sometimes people don't appreciate each moment they have lived. In the end this person just wanted one moment with someone they loved. I don't have words to say how much I liked this poem Rudi. So good, so good.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Robert, so glad you liked it too. You're words are really appreciated. :) Rudi

[MsJewel]

Rudi, I'm nearly speechless...you have left me teary eyed. I'm saving this one in my library to read again. You have touched me deeply.

Julie

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Julie, you give me too much honor, but I'm flattered. Really appreciated. :) Rudi

[Coyote Poetry]

I do understand this place.
"Can I still stay for a moment?
You want to ask me.
All I can do, is swallow my sorrow."
Sometime we must hold strong place and listen. Thank you my friend for sharing the powerful poetry.
Coyote

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, John, you're so right, sometimes we must hold strong place but it in certain circumstances it's very difficult. :) Rudi

[Coyote Poetry]

I understand and you welcome.

[....................]

This is beautiful, Rudi... from the description of initial guilt and the dying figure upon the bed to the yearning to stay, just a moment longer, you wrap images in soft words that bring the reader into the room, as if watching from the corner as two lives teeter on the edge of changing forever... it is true, death can be a very sad thing, but what is life it is to be lived unhappily in suffering? I see two possibilities here: the first, the reader, deep in sorrow and guilt because they could not do anything to help a loved one get well and now they don't want to leave the room... but it could also be someone who had become estranged with the person who is dying and now feels guilty that they have come to see them in their final moments... either way, it is a piece that makes us think about our own mortality and the mortality of those we love... well-done, my friend.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, FT, for this wonderful review; I couldn't have said it better. Indeed, you can read it in two ways like you describe in your review. We often have a feeling of guilt, not have done enough for the person while he was alive and well, at that moment we know that we have missed so much opportunities and that hurts. Thank you again for these beautiful words you have written. :) Rudi