This poem was written in November, about three weeks before my husband died, December 3, 1993. Perhaps, because he knew, and I knew, he did not have long to live, he thought it one of my best. I know it is not my best, but I do try to live as though each day may be the last day of my life.
If the dawning day should bathe
an eastern sky in every hue:
of gray, of pink, of green, of gold
and clouds that soar into the blue,
would you not rise to greet the dawn
if no tomorrow’s were for you?
If birds, forevermore took flight
their songs into oblivion,
if jeweled wings no longer flashed
their brilliance in the sun,
what would you give for their return,
to welcome back so much as one?
If all the flowers ceased to bloom,
were dead forever, slain by frost,
if trees were not re-clothed when shed
of autumn leaves by wild winds tossed,
what would you give for their rebirth
and not regret the beauty lost?
If the sunset in the West
that sets tonight might be
a vast and glorious spectacle
of nature’s majesty,
would you not stand in breathless awe
knowing `twas the last you’d see?
that was so lovely… i have such a delicate relationship with life… things like this give me great pause… thank you for making me think…..
As I sit in Wyoming, watching cows trot down the road and the crystal snow shine from sun, this poem hits me right in the heart. Great job, Mary.
As much as I would like to leave a personal response to each and every comment received, since there is only this one box provided, whypaisley and writerlulu, thanks to both of you. Paisley, for reasons I’ll not go into, your words, “thank you for making me think”, is the highest praise I can receive. Writerlulu, when someone tells me a work of mine hits them right in the heart, well, thats right up there with “thinking”.
You made me cry!
While I was hoping the poem might cause a thought or two to take root here and there, I sure didn….hey, that’s high praise indeed. Thank you, painterofblue.