When I Leave This World

Inspired by the song "Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam You had just gotten your first car, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air, We were only seventeen years old and neither had a care, You came over after school and asked me to go for a drive, We longed for freedom of the road, we never felt so alive. Always the gentleman, as you opened the powder blue door, But, after tonight you would be doing this for me no more, I remember how the moonlight shined off of the chrome, When you picked me up and I would never return home. I cannot ever stop thinking about and replaying our past, I still remember your soft kiss, and it would be our last, Because, this tender embrace would never happen again, There was no way that either of us could've known it then. The impact was so sudden that I felt almost no pain, As the car swerved out of control into the other lane, It all happened so fast, there was no time to scream, Now my existence is a nightmare, just some bad dream. My body grew cold fast, but I could still feel the heat, Of the warm blood dripping down onto the leather seat, I lay there silently, nearly lifeless, held against your shoulder, It was then I realized that I would not be growing older. The radio faded away as I closed my eyes for the last time, What happened to me was an accident, and not a crime, I will wait for you on this spot, by the very same tree, Where most people don't notice, but some of them see. It's an anniversary, it will be 58 years around midnight, The misting rain and lingering fog will keep me from sight, As the headlights go flying by, shining from modern cars, I'm hoping one of them will be you to take me to the stars. When I do leave this world, side by side we will stand, And this bad dream will finally be over as you take my hand, I am waiting to go to heaven, only you can bring me there, In your brand new, powder blue 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air.