Lilting

Aged

I wake once more.

Another dawn.

But the sky is full of clouds.

Gray, always gray.

No other sign of color.

No sign of dawn.

Maybe tomorrow there will be a sunrise.

If I live to see tomorrow, that is.

So another day sitting in my chair.

Maybe I'll read.

Maybe I'll watch TV.

But it's always the same.

There is no joy,

No hope,

No grief.

Just waiting...

Living...

Dying.

But how long will I last?

How long until my contract,

My contract with life,

Ends?

Maybe an hour.

Or a day.

A week.

A month,

Or a year,

Or several years.

Either way...

I will die.

I have long accepted it.

Waited.

I know that when God appears at my bedside,

I will take his hand.

I will follow him up the golden stairs.

I will finally retire

From life.

I will live on,

In memories

And smiles

And the hearts of my children,

Grandchildren,

Brothers,

Sisters,

And maybe...

My husband.

If he should stay behind,

If I shall leave first.

If it is he,

And not I,

Who sees our Lord first...

Then it will not be long

Until I follow.

For we have been together now,

For 65 years.

65 years... how many can say that?

Few.

For either death,

Or others,

Claims one before such a time is reached.

Not us.

Not yet.

If he leaves,

I shall soon follow.

For our bond ---

Even though sometimes it does not seem a such---

Is strong.

We live on,

Because we are together.

But even we,

Who have lived so long,

Shall die.

Soon.

Tomorrow or years from now.

We just wait.

We enjoy what we have,

Like our family,

Grandchildren,

Brothers and children.

Until we see our parents.

And those we have lost.

Until God comes to our bed,

And welcomes us to Heaven.

Another day has ended.

Tomorrow will come another.

I shall wake once more at dawn.

Hoping for a last sunrise,

But still appreciating the clouds.

For it will mean I am still alive,

For at least a little while.

I wait with my husband,

Together in our chairs,

Waiting, reading, watching.

Living.

We are healthy, for our age.

But even if we are both healthy,

We are slowly ending our days on earth.