Barbara Peckham Poet Free verse

The Waiting Room

There comes a time,
If you live long enough,
When you may find yourself
In that last waiting room.
One day it’s necessary 
To give up life as you know it
And leave it behind
To move somewhere else,
Somewhere simpler with more help.

What to do with all the books
You have read over the years,
That are like old friends?
Who will get the family silver
Or should it just be sold?
What about the table linens, 
The chest of quilts made by 
Your great grandmother,
And all the family photographs?
There are boxes of souvenirs
And albums from trips, 
Cookie tins for all the cookies
You made at Christmas, 
Dishes and glassware and 
The corner china closet.

But most of all, all of your life 
Is in this place called home.
Your neighbors and friends,
As close to you as family,
Who stop by on the wide porch
For a drink on a hot day.
People always there with a smile,
A helping hand, a casserole,
A comforting, listening ear. 
Your church, the small town
Grocery store and post office,
The open spaces, trees, and
Parks and the sandy beaches.

You leave your whole life behind
And move to a lovely new 
Apartment in a spacious building
With other lovely new apartments,
And you make the best of it
Because, after all, you have a choice.
You can choose to be miserable,
Or you can choose to be happy,
Even if you feel that you have moved
To that last waiting room.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

L Milton Hankins July 31, 2021 at 6:46 PM Ah, what a poignant (and true) write. I loved the last four lines best. Yes, we can be the master of our feelings and that means we can be miserable or we can be happy...the choice is ours. Barbara Peckham July 31, 2021 at 7:42 PM Well, it's true, as I see it. One can be miserable and want something different, but all it does is make us unpleasant to be around and keep us from new things and new friends. It isn't always easy, however! You are very kind to me.