Poem of Love, Life, and Endings: Delicious Ambiguity.
“I always wanted a happy ending… Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.”
-Gilda Radner
Delicious Ambiguity
The end comes soon.
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
It has felt close before.
Yesterday was a good day.
It seemed normal.
Walking.
Talking.
Laughing.
Playing.
Visiting.
Today has not been good.
Last night there were quiet smiles.
This morning only sleep.
No eating.
No drinking.
Only sleep.
Words are spoken.
Are they heard?
Morning becomes day.
Words are spoken.
Songs sung quietly.
Continuous holding,
Caressing.
Gentle kisses.
No eating.
No drinking.
Only sleep.
Day turns to night.
The end comes soon.
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
It has felt close before.
No eating.
No drinking.
Only sleep.
The night is long and dark.
Held in loving arms.
Gentle kisses.
Soft words.
Sweet lullabies.
Night becomes morning.
This morning only sleep.
No eating.
No drinking.
Only sleep.
Words are spoken.
Are they heard?
Morning becomes day.
Words are spoken.
Songs sung quietly.
Continuous holding,
Caressing.
Gentle kisses.
No eating.
No drinking.
Only sleep.
Words are spoken.
We love you.
We are so proud of you.
If it is time to go.
It is okay.
Promises made.
A single tear.
The subtlest smile.
Day turns to night.
The end comes soon.
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
Words are spoken.
Songs sung quietly.
Continuous holding,
Caressing.
Gentle kisses.
No eating.
No drinking.
Only sleep.
Held in loving arms.
A soft sigh.
The end has come.
Delicious Ambiguity.
_____________________________________________
A poem inspired by the last days of my son Benjamin who loved Gilda Radner because of the creation of Gilda’s Club and Noogieland in her honor. It was one of his favorite places and he knew she had to be special. He wanted to go visit her grave one day and thank her. He never made it. He was 9 years old. I’m sure he met her in heaven.