Dying Is An Art

To die with dignity
in the midst of indignant pain

Eyes clenched, face contorted
Knowing you're at your end
Semi toothless, wrinkled
Mottled with brown age spots
Turkey gizzard neck
Eyes darting to and fro
Not fooled
By medical euphemisms
Not fooled by words
of false cheer
Counting ceiling tiles
Admiring florescent tube
Some scenic way to go
Don't you think?

Once more a sip of milk
Once more a warm embrace
Just one more minute
Without this pain,
Dear Lord...

I long to see
my lost ones
But I am not sure
If I will travel on
Or become as rememberless
as the dust I'll be

It's an art
to die
with dignity
I know of few
capable of such

My dear father
He showed me how
He set an example
I pray to emulate
I doubt I can
He is with me still...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2007

Poem

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