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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

Date: 10/27/2022 5:01:00 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
Date: 10/27/2022 9:13:00 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

Date: 10/27/2022 7:00:00 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
Date: 10/27/2022 7:48:00 AM

Thanks, Janice. I liked that line myself.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 10/27/2022 12:15:00 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
Date: 10/27/2022 7:49:00 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

Date: 10/26/2022 9:02:00 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
Date: 10/27/2022 7:50:00 AM

Oh, I believe so, Elizabeth. This is a dear friend's mother I'm referring to.