A Mothers Good-Bye

A poet friend of mine lost her mother just this past week. I wrote this poem for her. A Mother’s Good-bye I don’t want the water – it’s too cold, it’s too hot I want what I haven’t – don’t want what I got I’m old and bed-ridden – and I don’t know my friends But I’m really not ready to see how life ends I’ve held on to life by the thinnest of thread Not fully alive but not yet fully dead You see I’m not ready to say my good-byes Though I cannot speak or keep open my eyes I’ll miss my children and I know they’ll miss me Whenever the end of my days come to be For I hear their voices as they stand by my bed And I feel their love by the things that are said I pray that my soul passes God’s final test As my body grows weary and shuts down for rest I hear the Lord’s calling – I hear angels sing They are ready to take me up under their wing And though I can’t speak no matter how hard I try My thoughts are the love of a mother’s good-bye