Lay Me Gently Down
Lay me gently down on a cold wint’ry day,
While the fireplace sparkles and blue flames rise
A day when the sun shines not to brighten, nay
Snow cloud blankets denying warmth to the eyes.
So you know, death comes to me as no surprise
For too long have I waited, on this soft bed lay
Suffering intoning voices filled with hopeful lies,
Lay me gently down on a cold wint’ry day.
I can no longer yearn for the beach or the cay
For springtime will likely find me not, I surmise,
Nor fond visions of summer’s long hours at play
While the fireplace sparkles and blue flames rise.
Though mind will foment, as the tongue still tries,
My time will have come with nothing left to say
Time inevitably comes when a thing of value dies,
A day when the sun shines not to brighten, nay.
All has been accomplished, come what may
Little or no remembrance of the lows and the highs
No more time to relish things frivolous, or the gay,
Snow cloud blankets denying warmth to the eyes
Likely I shall hear the low keening and the sighs
The mourning sounds of sorrow, the bereaving way,
As last breaths accompany the end of earthly ties
May there only be one desire left for you to obey,
Lay me gently down.
Written May 14, 2022
Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022
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