Lie Down On Me

I wait for you in the moonlight
In the quiet of the night
Within this room that holds
So many moments of your life

The dreams you've dreamed
Still linger here 
Between these flower-papered walls
That look beyond the window
At the Autumn leaves that fall

A quilted robe lies draped across
A wicker rocking chair
That held you and rocked you
When grief
Was more than you could bear

A bassinet now empty
Where once a baby slept
Remains enshrined
Chained to a time
By the million tears you wept

A picture of a handsome man
With you there by his side
A bride and groom so in love
With stardust in their eyes

Stands behind a pane of glass
Within a gilded frame
Where your lip prints and
finger prints 
On its surface..still remain

And now...
I hear your slippers
As they slide across the floor
And I hear...
Your laboured breathing
Outside this bedroom door

And  I know that soon
I'll hold you
Here in this flower-papered room
And soothe your old 
And frail body
In the light of a silver moon 

I...your old companion
An antique Rosewood Bed
Let me hold you...Mary Beth 
I..the best friend you've ever had

Let me hold you through the night
And bring you back...again
Sweet Mary Beth
Into the morning light.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Bhattacharjee Avatar
March 10, 2024 at 7:40 AM
Reading this poem one would never look at the bed in agony of old age.
Allison Avatar
September 26, 2020 at 5:11 PM
such a touching piece Elaine I love the personification it moved me to tears. congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx
George   Avatar
October 4, 2020 at 4:41 AM
Thank you for stopping by, and for your kind comments, Jan...much appreciated. ~ Elaine
Canerdy Avatar
September 26, 2020 at 8:12 AM
Oh, this one has made me cry. How beautiful and moving! CONGRATS, Elaine! Janice
George   Avatar
October 4, 2020 at 4:55 AM
Thank you for stopping by and for your comments, Janice...much appreciated. ~ Elaine
Radhakrishna Avatar
May 20, 2020 at 4:24 PM
Elaine Your poems are amongst the very best in this group! Extremely good! This one is exceptional! I have read a few of your poems now and I shall be reading more and more of them!
George   Avatar
May 20, 2020 at 6:21 PM
Thank you, Krish...for your very kind comments...so much appreciated. ~ Elaine
Man Avatar
June 25, 2018 at 3:48 PM
Elaine.. the more I read the more excited I got. This is what Personification is meant to be. This poem should be used as its model. It's smart and emotive. Each line builds on the last. Each stanza moves you to the "reveal". There are no wasted words, nothing that gives you pause. From the first word you are moved to the last. This poem feels perfect and it's pure joy even after multiple reads. You are an artist!
George   Avatar
June 26, 2018 at 7:19 PM
Thank you so much for stopping by, Dave...and for your kind comments. Actually, a personification I wrote in 2006 entitled, VIOLIN, and reposted here recently is being used as a teaching tool on many teaching websites. I had no idea when I wrote it, that it would be so honored. Elaine
Dietrich Avatar
April 27, 2018 at 8:34 PM
Oh my gosh, utterly beautiful in its sadness. What a wonderful friendship to last those years and be there for her in the end. I loved this,Elaine.
George   Avatar
April 28, 2018 at 9:13 AM
Thank you for stopping by, Andrea, and for your welcomed comments. Elaine
Richards Avatar
April 21, 2018 at 10:42 AM
This is too beautiful......heartfelt and so very sad that years must pass so quickly, and slowly we watch our loved ones become frail and slip away, just as time itself. A wonderful poem, Elaine . You never fail to move me :)
George   Avatar
April 26, 2018 at 8:33 AM
Thank you for stopping by and for your most welcomed comments, Carrie.
Williams Avatar
April 21, 2018 at 6:39 AM
A beautiful personification Elaine, so many lovely thoughts and beautiful memories, a surprise ending. A definite fave for me that requires many a reread....Maria xx
George   Avatar
April 26, 2018 at 8:28 AM
Thank you for stopping by and for your most welcomed comments, Maria.
Ashley Avatar
April 19, 2018 at 10:55 PM
Oh such a beautifully poignant poem, Elaine. Your personification is so moving and so lovingly and artistically expressed. A stunning poem that captivated me from start to finish.. a deep and emotional poem that I truly enjoyed.. Warmest wishes. ~Susan
George   Avatar
April 21, 2018 at 5:37 AM
Thank you for stopping by...and for your kind comments, Susan...much appreciated. Sincerely. Elaine.
Callus Avatar
April 18, 2018 at 12:29 PM
A beautiful and touching personification, Elaine! So many treasured memories! Your poems never fail to deliver. Best regards // paul
George   Avatar
April 21, 2018 at 5:41 AM
Thank you for stopping by...and for your kind comments, Paul...much appreciated. Sincerely. Elaine.
Andresen Avatar
April 17, 2018 at 3:51 AM
- A poem filled with love, a pleasure to read - Wonderfully written, Elaine :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
George   Avatar
April 17, 2018 at 3:52 AM
Thank you for stopping by, Anne Lise. So nice to hear from you. Elaine
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