I always thought,
naively so,
you’d always be there,
Never occurred to me
so blind,
that someday you’d go.
So familiar,
your presence:
you brew the morning coffee,
at seven, a good-bye kiss,
but lingering behind,
your essence.
Leaving was always
a temporary thing,
off to work, then home,
never doubted your return,
until that one, piercing,
unexpected ring.
Wrong number, wrong person,
you’ve always come home,
You were just here,
plans for dinner at eight,
you said you’d never leave,
I’d never be alone.
Oh, I forgot,
there was something I had to say
I meant to ask you,
will you pick up some milk?
Your key in the lock, anytime, now:
you’d never go today.
Can I reel back the time?
Can I put the clocks on hold?
Can I tell the phone not to ring?
Hold that one last morning kiss?
We haven’t had our chance, yet,
To grow old.
© Janet Mitchell, July 2012
OH Im speechless… your words can tear my heart all up, then somehow mend it…. there’s healing in a sadness that burns with hope and love. Love truly conquers all, even the darkest hour before dawn, I guess. easier said than experienced… thank you for sharing, writing the way you do, ; a life well well well spent. Every tear, mended : if it can produce such a feast of verse, then God did good in creating you… am rambling. Grateful for writers that can just write like that, letting everyone in to their secret moments invisible to the world. oh hug…
Thank you soo much. Kind words, such as yours, instill the seed for healing and open the heart to let in love… most of the time, you will never know how much healing and love you’ve made possible! Kind of like Pay it Forward…. one kindness, however small it may seem, can end up changing entire populations, and so, the world! We are so powerful, we just don’t realize it.
As you say we are never ready for this. I am sorry that this poem is not fiction. I can totally empathise with this as my husband died suddenly too.
It’s a tough one, but most of us go through it, sooner or later.
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also
Oh Janet, I read this last night, and had so hoped that it was fiction….came back just now and I see it was true….I’m so sorry…my heart goes out to you…I’m so sorry for your loss. Even though I didn’t know the poem was true, I said good bye to my husband with so much more feeling this morning…a special reminder to me to cherish those we are with…as long as we are with them. Your poem truly touches my heart…
I’m glad. Thanks for reading, Kathy.
Another beautifully written piece, my friend. Your poetry takes my breath away. I have tears….
Oh, Terri–thank you. Your loyalty and continuing support is so valued. You have yourself a good day! (And Joan, too!)
This is heartbreaking. To some extent, I believe we all take those we love for granted – especially in our younger years. I hope this was fiction…if it is, you are very convincing
Not fiction. This happened to me at 27, with an 11-month old babe to care for. But that babe was the force that kept me going. Since then, I try very hard to not take anyone for granted. People are more precious to me. And that’s a good thing! Thanks for reading and for your heartfelt comment, Janna.
Hello,
I have been enjoying your poetry and I think you have done a good job. Well done!
I am dropping by to thank you for subscribing to my blog. I hope you will find visiting my blog an enjoyable experience.
Thank you again and lovely day to you!
Subhan Zein
I look forward to reading more on your site. Thanks for reading and commenting on mine!
I am crying because this is us.
Me, too. Mine was sudden, yours, agonizingly slow. Either way, young or old, sudden or slow, it’s shocking, always shocking… we’re never ready for something like this.
♥♥
chilling reality
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!