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Gateway to the Next
by Alison McKenzieYour long life is slowing,
Suffering in this early summer sun,
Bent back and shuffling gait,
Restless legs that have nowhere to take you now,
Eyes that see only the murk of surroundings,
Unable to recognize the youngest generations,
Forgetting my name,
But remembering that I am someone nice
Who is doing her best to take good care of you.
Observing your deterioration,
This decline into the places that have no exit
Save one, and how afraid you seem
To face it,
After all those years of faith and declaration,
Now avoiding the way out,
The way through,
The way to beyond it all...
How I wish I had words that would soothe,
Guide you gently to that door.
If I could give you the confidence
Of the relief you would find there,
The solace and comfort of your next adventure,
The shedding of this once beautiful shell,
Delicate now in all the years and gravity,
How precious you will always be to us,
And how life will embrace you again,
Glorious journey of curiosity and glimmering,
Shining hope of another journey.
My beautiful grandmother, my once-upon-a-time,
Savior of my perseverance.
Let me quietly sing to you of
What is coming, this Light,
This gateway to the Next.
05/09/2008 Author's Note: For Meme. May this journey to the Next be swift and peaceful.
Posted on 05/09/2008
Copyright © 2024 Alison McKenzie
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by A. Paige White on 05/09/08 at 05:29 PM What an exquisitely beautiful lullabye for your grandmother, sweet Ali. It brings tears to my eyes with the poignancy of your beautiful thoughts tender and assured of her destination of passage. "My beautiful grandmother, my once-upon-a-time, Savior of my perseverance." is a line worthy of being inscribed in pure gold, gold such as you, you dear one. Oh, that my grandchildren would be half so inspired by my life... Straight into my favorites. I will remember you both in my prayers. May He ease you both in this commencing journey. |
| Posted by Charlie Morgan on 05/09/08 at 06:25 PM ...all that paige said and i saw what was going on and too got a lovely heavy heart, and said to/about you re: meme, you go girl, stouter than stout, good stock from good stock, you're a flat river rock that allows a little of life's stream to roll over you and causing you to shine, as rumi would say: to live is to burn, you burn girl...peace, charlie |
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