Gone.

Photo credit: Sean Hewer. All rights reserved.

You were here yesterday
And this morning.
How can you be just
Gone?
In the time it takes
To blink, or breathe
Or turn to look, 
You left.
Now, there is endless time
To weep, to rage,
To question, and yet
Go on.
I don’t know how to be
Here without you.
How can you be just
Gone?

©2020 Joanne Van Leerdam

Dedicated to the brother of my brother, who was much loved and is deeply missed.

Old Man.

Image: Joanne Van Leerdam 2020

Vigour has yielded to frailty,
Pain tarnishes every day,
He longs to be free of his misery – 
Oh! If one could wish suffering away!

He despises his aged condition:
When he stands, his body is bent;
He cannot escape his suspicion
That the best of his days have been spent.

His voice has grown soft and he mumbles,
It’s harder to focus his mind,
He is more prone now to grumble – 
His good humour has slowly declined.

His children observe the difference – 
They lament the toll of the years;
What he prays for as deliverance
Will, for them, mean sorrow and tears.

For now, he sits in his armchair,
Dozing off whenever he can: 
Precious little brings any pleasure 
For the tired and broken old man.

Then, in an instant, he leaves them – 
No more misery, no tears, no night:
He casts off his pain, finds his wings, 
Becomes an angel and takes flight. 

ⓒ 2018 Joanne Van Leerdam 

Old Man: A Poetic Tribute To My Dad.
#Memorials #Fathers #Poetuit #poetrylovers #blogpost

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