TOGETHER FOREVER
Sixty years together
was all they had to show
that their love was never wasted
and that it could only grow
they talked about the old days
and they couldn't help but laugh
about the lovely times they shared
and how they never seemed to last
they talked about the wedding
how they danced in such sweet bliss
they joked about the present
and now how they could barely kiss
with their worn and weathered bodies
it is their youth that they both miss
the laughter fades away
as she falls off to sleep
the medication is finally working
but the pain still makes her weep
there is nothing more that they can do
is what the doctors say
just try to keep her happy
she will be gone now any day
He stares upon her features
now their old and wrinkled and grey
nothing like they were
when he fell in love that day
to his eyes she is still lovely
which some might think is strange
but he knows age didn't steal her beauty
it was simply rearranged
she holds on with a vengeance
enduring all the pain
and as much as he still loves her
he knows that it's in vain
he want's so much to tell her
that it's ok to say goodbye
but deep inside his heart
he will know it is a lie
for she is everything he knows
and everything he does
and once she finally leaves his side
he will have to say she was
for the sixty years of love she gave
he knew he owed a debt
he would end the pain somehow
he was not sure how just yet
he saw a finger flicker
and he looked up at her face
he saw her start to smile
even through the pains embrace
again the finger flickered
he knew the look upon her face
after sixty years of marriage
she still longed for his embrace
their hands were joined together
but a minute it did take
for now they tend to fumble
from the age that makes them shake
he had to be gentle
or the pain would make her cry
and he knew that he would do that
when he made her say goodbye
he thought it would be best for her
if he could end the pain
but when death is as close as this
would anyone really gain
She lies there thinking of her man
and how he was such a find
so many men out in the world
that would not have been so kind
she thinks about his hands and back
that got them through the years
the hours that they had endured
to give her what she lacked
She thought about him coming home
to see her everyday
and knew that in the sixty years
his love did never stray
she thought about the good times
and couldn't think of any bad
especially on the first day when
she made him a proud dad
in sixty years of marriage
they were together every day
and in return for his great love
she knew she had a debt to pay
the pain could not win over
she just had to stay for him
it wasn't fair for all he's done
to make him start again
she took the breath within her
and waded through the pain she knew
to give him one last whisper
the simple words I STILL LOVE YOU
a single tear rolled down his cheek
but he didn't start to cry
he had longed to hear the words she said
but was hoping for goodbye
he told her back I LOVE YOU
and then he tried to kiss her cheek
but his body couldn't do it
for he himself was old and weak
we spent sixty years together
and it went by Oh so fast
I would share another sixty
if I thought that we could last
He sat down in the chair
beside the bed where she did lay
and said that I have never failed you
till the kiss I tried today
I too am old and tired
with my spirt all but gone
maybe if we go together
we'll hold hands with tomorrow's dawn
then a sudden fear takes over
as he looks down at her hand
after sixty years of marriage
he's once again a single man
the shaking he grew used to
that was coming from her hand
stopped with an eerie feeling
not the goodbye that he had planned
he holds on to her hand
and he embraces the still it has
for it marked her pain was gone now
and for her he was so glad
he has a feeling of relief
as he sits back in the chair
the worries he felt for her
now could clear the air
exhausted from the waiting
now he could just weep
as he held on to her hand
and he faded off to sleep
the nurse came in to get him
it was time he must go home
but when she started shaking him
she knew she was alone
she saw that they were holding hands
and thought now that's how it should be
after sixty years of marriage
Author: Douglas Q. Plew
