We Are Not Promised Tomorrow

^As I got up out of my bed today,
I had a thought that won’t go away.
I looked out the window to see sunny skies,
I´m sure that the smile, showed in my eyes.
So I’ll start today with joy not with sorrow,
Because we are not promised tomorrow.

As I showered and shaved and went to the loo,
My thoughts turned, to what I should do.
 I could just have a lazy day, after all it’s Saturday,
But that’s not me, it’s not my way.
For each day we wake is a new blessing,
Life is for living, so I’m not messing.


It’s world cup time, so I could watch TV, 
A game or two, or even three.
But if I watched three I would feel guilty,
I want to feel like the world still needs me.
So I try to achieve something everyday,
Even if it’s in my own small way.

I call a friend to see that she is OK
We chat for a while, and I hear her say, 
She’s doing fine but I could hear that she’s not well
Something in her voice, Somethings wrong I could tell.
So we arrange later to get together, 
A coffee a beer or lunch or whatever

So we meet at one and as I arrive,
She rushes to hug me, with tears in her eyes.
After a minute, she says she is fine,
An hour passes then she tells me what’s on her mind.
She has been to the doctor, only to find, 
Her days are numbered, it’s the end of the line.

What can I do, what can I say?
I try to console her, in my own way.
I tell her to take it one day at a time,
I will be with her, it will be fine.
It’s hard to take, as I have cancer too
Let’s just have some fun, just me and you.

We start making plans of things to do,
 places to visit and some people too.
I am trying to hide my emotions pretend I’m okay,
She see straight through me, then I hear her say.
It will be okay, if you stand by me,
She is smiling now, and that’s great to see.

Hours go by as we sit and talk
It’s about five o’clock, we decide to walk. 
After a bit she wants to rest for a while,
 Her head on my shoulder, both with a smile.
Sitting admiring the wonderful views,
Right there and then, my friend I did loose.

She never woke up, again from that place,
Now weeks later there’s a smile on my face.
Because she went with a smile, not with sorrow.
She knew that we are not promised tomorrow.
It makes me feel proud to have been her friend,
To have been with her, up to the very end.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Hamilton Avatar
October 15, 2019 at 8:47 PM
Welcome to the soup, this poem had me riding the roller coaster of emotions, it was sad but ended well, (kind of) looking forward to more beautiful writes!
Ross Avatar
October 16, 2019 at 12:03 AM
Thanks John, you can get more in my book, Jungle of emotions. On amazon
Mcintosh Avatar
October 5, 2019 at 12:17 AM
Very hard to experience and such a wonderful poem. Blessings to you and prayers, Gina
Crismond  Avatar
October 1, 2019 at 11:08 PM
That was so amazingly sad and uplifting at the same time. Wonderful poem :)
Ross Avatar
October 16, 2019 at 12:05 AM
Thankyou Heather. My book, Jungle of emotions, is out now on amazon, if you want to read more.
Ilahi Avatar
October 1, 2019 at 2:07 PM
True words indeed. We are not promised tomorrow so enjoy each day and get the best out of everyday x
De Beaulieu Avatar
September 28, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Hello Alex Rosss,All you can do is remember the good times you both shared. i am sorry to hear that you have cancer. My sister had cancer surgery done on her lung. She is healing now. i will pray for you. Have a nice day my friend. for you.
Ross Avatar
September 28, 2019 at 4:57 AM
This is just a sample from my book to be published on Amazon on October the 1st 2019. Jungle of Emotions by Ross Alexander
Krutsinger Avatar
September 28, 2019 at 3:38 AM
What a lovely way to say this! "She has been to the doctor, only to find, Her days are numbered, it’s the end of the line." And what a great friend you must be! Welcome to Poetry Soup!
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