Twilight Songs

Once upon a time

You were like a butterfly

Here and there and everywhere

Now you are stuck in a wheelchair

Once you sighed day in day out

“Why must I live so long?”

Now you’re blissfully content

You don’t remember

What you’ve ever said

You live in a foreign land

Like most in the dining room today

The piano plays soft melodies

Of bygone years, I feel my eyes

Well up with tears

Tears keep rolling

Down my cheeks

As I watch you sitting

Motionless, expressionless

I turn away my face:

A young nurse’s belly carries

A new life, a new beginning

Amidst the very ending

My tears keep rolling

Down to my trembling lips

The nurse keeps smiling

Her words are sweet

“Come on love, up you go

One two three, well done

Hang on to your walker, dear”

The old soul, half her size

Slowly shuffles on

I shed one more tear

My wet eyes I wipe…

The piano played

Their songs and mine

Once upon a time

© 2015 Irina Dimitric

• The first draft of this poem was written immediately on coming home after visiting my 100-year old mother  in her nursing home. She passed away in 2012, one week short of being 101. This poem has been published on http://www.narratorINTERNATIONAL.com
  under the name Irina Dimitric. You can support me there if you wish.
  The direct link is http://www.narratorinternational.com/twilight-songs-irina-dimitric/

Have a great week! <3 Irina