Just One More

Sitting up past midnight

Ears straining for breath without wheeze

Sitting up praying you wouldn’t go with the night.

The intrusion of the telephone breaks

My concentration.

I hear his voice. It is soft

Words almost silent.

I run to him searching his face

And ask for my boots.

‘I wont be long’ I say and

Kiss him softly.

I drive without recollection

A Journey to my new life.

My brother stands weeping

Slouched against the door

My mother sits in stunned silence.

Entering the bedroom I  move to him

And kiss his cold beautiful face

The walls resound grace and

We all stand around in prayer.

We never said goodbye I thought

Was there need? He just knew

Like always I never had to ask.

He left us and the breathing became deeper

The lark had flown leaving

A young child to live on.

I still long for one more minute

To see his dark brown eyes

His smile

To hear him laugh –

Just one more minute

To say goodbye…

Angela M.C. D’Alton©