Give Us a Little Longer

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Give Us a Little Longer

Spare another couple years.
Time is too often occupied with obligations
to feed our sense of adventure new sights.
Give us a little longer to explore breathtaking wonders, 
to toast with an exhilarated sigh
the excitement of new splendors.

We’ve lived our days honest and well, 
years spent working to provide for a family 
and gratefully blessed with grandchildren to spoil.
My beautiful wife, I will always remember 
the way she floated down the aisle the day we married.
Aging gracefully she’s never lost her luster and glow.

Roads riddled with vivacious greenery,
and mighty rolling waves lapping the shore,
I long more than anything to take her there.
Hand in hand, walking barefoot in the evening sand;
she’s never seen the ocean.

Yellow tulips are her favorite.
I replace yesterday’s bouquet with a fresh one,
she says it livens up the room.
I tie back the silk curtains to welcome the sun inside.
She looks to me and smiles as I sit by her bedside, 
keeping from me words I don’t want to hear.
Her frail hand shakes as I raise it to my lips with a kiss.

A nurse dressed in white stands at the door, 
dejection in her eyes and hands clasped at her chest.
For months I prayed to God her sickness would be reconciled,
but now I see her time is near its end.
Slowly she brings her trembling hand to my tearing face.

Silence speaks so loudly, I know nothing I can say.
Her hand gently falls to her side,
and she is gone to the paradise we dreamed of going.
I can’t be pained that I never took her, 
for one day I will meet her there.

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