L Milton Hankins Poet Quintain (English)

Fear of That Unknown Flight

She wakes hurting in the early morning light
Refuses precautionary painkillers, ‘til it’s too late
With age comes the fear of that unknown flight
Into eternal rest, or whatever, no need to berate,
At her age, reason is merely an interfering ingrate.

No amount of pleading alters her way of thinking
She’d rather bear intense pain than to capitulate
That her children might know that she is sinking,
No longer competent to make judgments of late
Unable to deal with pain, or how to seal its fate. 
 
Written October 26, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger October 27, 2022 at 5:01 PM This poem could have been written in memory of my mother "She’d rather bear intense pain than to capitulate That her children might know that she is sinking," L Milton Hankins October 27, 2022 at 9:13 PM I think it is so reflective of many mothers who don't want their children to know how really sick they are.

Janice Canerdy October 27, 2022 at 7:00 AM It is VERY hard, sometimes impossible, to convince elderly loved ones to do ANYthing they don't want to do! Your poem is so skillfully written and descriptive. Favorite part--the personification of "reason." Janice L Milton Hankins October 27, 2022 at 7:48 AM Thanks, Janice. I liked that line myself.

Tom Cunningham October 27, 2022 at 12:15 AM How brave of her Milton to bear agonising pain rather than fade away quietly but she chose to stay awake and seeing her loved ones to say goodbye. Tom L Milton Hankins October 27, 2022 at 7:49 AM There's a great deal of truth to this, Tom. I often wonder how I will face the time ahead when I must my limitations head on.

Elizabeth Mccann October 26, 2022 at 9:02 PM How well you understand her dilemma! They're not kidding when they say old age is not for sissies. Whatever, whoever she is, she's very lucky to be validated in her choices. Elizabeth L Milton Hankins October 27, 2022 at 7:50 AM Oh, I believe so, Elizabeth. This is a dear friend's mother I'm referring to.