Slipping Away

SLIPPING AWAY
Across the bed my brother’s eyes met mine
We both, unspoken, knew
That life was ebbing from our weakening father

Dad’s sleeping at peace
We hope for release

My finger on his pulse still felt the throb of life
But creeping coldness in his arm
Heralded Death’s imminent arrival

Dad’s drifting away
We want him to stay

Solicitous nurses offered tea and comfort
To the patient witnesses around his bad
Nurturing the living in these dying moments

Dad’s fading so fast
Soon he’ll breathe his last

Breath stopped; a final sigh, so soft
And soon stone-cold
The once man, once Father lay

Dad’s gone now no pain
Our loss is his gain

How unmomentous this momentous death
Within the room the silence of eternity
But outside – footsteps, laughter
Sounds of those whose Father had not died

Our whispered goodbyes dissipated into air
Our tears dried on our cheeks
On the pillow lay a blood-red rose
A symbol of our Mother’s love
We nestled her in our embrace
And silently we left the empty room.