Chill In the Air
Death waited
Sat patiently in the hallway
We all sat there with him
Looking at
and not seeing the paintings on the wall
We took turns
waiting, visiting, waiting
The hallway
Where tears stung our eyes
We cried together in that hallway
Why didn’t we notice death?
Maybe because he brought no flowers
Maybe he blended into the wallpaper
Shadows can hide in plain sight
He didn’t have anything to say
Still he would have the final say
Our loved one knew death was waiting
Maybe that’s why
He asked us to close the door
Maybe he wanted us to lock the door?
Inside the room
We grabbed bits of happy
Told stories
Laughed like it was the beginning of spring
It let us pretend that we had more time
We wanted more time
But we felt the chill in the air
Sadly, Death had more places to go
More people to see
Still, Death let us say our goodbyes
He waited for family and friends to arrive
He mercifully came when we went to the hallway
He slipped silently past us through the door
I think he whispered something
But I’m not sure
One day when my time comes
I’ll ask him what it was
I hope he won’t be in a rush
I’m hoping summer will last a while longer
Is that a chill I feel in the air?
Copyright © Richard Lamoureux | Year Posted 2022
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