LOVINGLY LETTING GO...

I WATCH YOU BREATHE DEEPLY AS IF IT IS THE LAST BREATH YOU'LL TAKE,
 I WALK SOFTLY TO YOUR BEDSIDE, EACH STEP IS GUARDED AND POISED.
 PAINFULLY I GAZE INTO YOUR WEATHERED FACE,THE WRINKLES SO DEEPENED BY AGE,
 MY OWN BREATH QUIETLY SLOWED FOR THE FEAR THAT YOU'LL AWAKE.

 AS YOU LIE THERE SO WEAK,SO FRAIL,MOTIONLESS AND IN SO MUCH PAIN,
 THE DOCTOR'S STOPPING BY TO CHECK ON YOUR PROGRESS INTO DEMISE.
 TO THEM YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER,ONE OF MANY THEY'VE CARED FOR IN SUCH A WAY,
 THEY'VE NOT SEEN THE LOVE AS I HAVE,THEY'VE HAD NOTHING TO GAIN.

 TIME TICKS SLOWLY BY THE CLOCK OVER YOUR BED,SECONDS SEEM LIKE HOURS,
 I ASK QUIETLY FOR ETERNITY TO PLEASE,PLEASE WAIT AWHILE LONGER.
 I CLASP YOUR FRAGILE HAND IN MINE,NO LONGER IS THERE STRENGTH IN IT,
 CAREFULLY AND GENTLY RAISING IT TO THESE LIPS THAT ONLY KNEW YOURS.

 I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT YOU MUST BE FEELING, NOW THAT DEATH IS NEAR,
 YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT I'M FEELING AS YOU SLIP FARTHER FROM ME.
 I HAD OFTEN TIMES HOPED I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO TAKE MY LEAVE OF YOU,
 NOW I REALIZE HOW SELFISH I MUST HAVE BEEN,LOSING YOU WAS ALWAYS SUCH A FEAR.
 
 SUDDENLY I FEEL A FAINT GRIP UPON MY TREMBLING HAND, HOW CAN THIS BE,
 I LOOK INTO YOUR FACE FOR SOME SIGN THERE,DO YOU KNOW I AM WITH YOU STILL.
 THEN TO MY OWN HEART YOU DO SPEAK AS A TEAR GLISTENS UPON YOUR CHEEK,
 PERHAPS ITS WISHFUL THINKING OR MY MIND PLAYING TRICKS ON ME.

 I HEAR YOUR HEART WHISPER AS IT DOES ONLY SPEAK TO MY HEART,
 YOU TELL ME ITS NOTHING TO FEAR AND THAT WE'LL BE TOGATHER AGAIN.
 YOU'LL BE WAITING THERE TO HELP WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR ME TO FOLLOW,
 THAT THIS IS THE ONLY TIME AND WE'LL NEVER AGAIN HAVE TO PART.

 SLIP AWAY MY DARLING AND KNOW THAT I WILL LONG TO BE AT YOUR SIDE,
 SLIP AWAY MY LOVE FOR WE BOTH KNOW ITS MEANT TO BE.
 JUST KNOW MY DEAREST, ITS WITH SADNESS THAT I MUST NOW LET YOU GO,
 MY THOUGHTS WILL ALWAYS BE OF YOU,MY TEARS FOR YOU I HAVE CRIED.
 
           Joanna Morningstar Randolph Copyright © 2009