THIS POEM IS WRITTEN WITH THE GRAND PARENTS I NEVER GOT TO KNOW.
BOTH MY GRAND PARENTS ON MY MOTHER AND FATHERS SIDES HAD DIED
BEFORE I EVER GOT TO KNOW THEM. WITH THAT IN MIND, I CREATED A
GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER THE WAY I THOUGHT, BETTER YET, THE
WAY I WISH THEM TO BE.
EYES LOOK YOUR LAST
He walks weary to his bed of ninety years
Down that lonely hallway that once was shared
Gone early she was at eighty-four
Sweet Emma, from his heart did adore
The hand of age brushes a kiss upon her face
Like so many times before when the day is long
He removes his wire rim glasses and yawns
Folded carefully and placed beside her photo on the nightstand
The linen is pulled to the side, a pillow is fluffed
Slowly he sits on the edge and stares into space
Slippers removed one by one and placed just so
Before he lies between the sheets, a distant call is heard
Gentle in the night the Loons sing their romantic song
The moon of silver reflects on the lake across the way
Shadows of Loons in love, create ripples upon the water
This is his Golden Pond and strawberries patches
Together many a day he and Emma would walk for miles hand in hand
Stopping to smell the flowers and pick strawberries for jam
How well he remembers those days of yest er year
But alas, she is gone and alone he has walked the path's alone
Shutting the window just enough to let a breeze flow
As he turns to shut the light, for just one moment, he believes
There Emma sits, she pats the bed and calls to him sweetly, "Come"
He clears his head, then a tear drops as he whispers to himself
"Alright Emma, my sweet, alright, alright I'm coming"
Making his way to the bed he slides in slowly between the sheets
Leans over, turns out the light and pulls the covers up
As he recalls Emma, The bright moon light casts shadows
They are upon the walls and on the ceiling over head
Figures dancing about the room, shadowed in blues and grays
They trigger memories of dances in the church hall on Saturday nights
Slowly his eyes close and he says this prayer every night
"Lord, my Savior, this I ask
I wish to see my Sweet Emma just once more time
To be by her side and feel her warm hand in mine
If you see me fit to grant this wish
Happy I will be in her arms and to taste Sweet Emma's kiss once more
I thank Thee my heavenly father
Amen"
