What Seemed Like Forever,

What seems like forever,

Is just a few minutes.

You lie there motionless

There’s nothing to say.

I hold your hand and

Tell you I love you .

Do you hear me?

Do you understand?

Our lives flash before

My eyes

I see you in your maroon

Pocket-T cigarette fat

Wearing grease-stained

Blue jeans.

What seems like forever,

Is just a few minutes.

What seems like forever,

Is just a few minutes.

Your wife stands by your side

Squeezing your right hand.

Eyes closed. I imagine she’s

Thinking of you on your

Wedding night, dressed neatly

In your tuxedo.

You take two deep breaths and

Open your eyes.

Looking at each of us,

You smile.

Then, with what becomes

Your last breath

You close your eyes and say,

“God, please take me.”

You died on a hospice bed

In the middle of our

Living room.

You were surrounded by

Family and friends.

That was all.

What seemed like forever,

Was just a few minutes.