Last Words We Hear

Fictional

My daughter visited her Grandmomma today

"Give me kisses." She'd repeat happily.

I'm thankful now I did.

Even with being in a rush to get home.

My only regret was a lie I'd said

I didn't know it at the time though.

So I hope later she'll understand.

I hurried home to my Husband

So he wouldn't be late for work.

I made his lunch and slipped in a note.

I knew it'd make his day.

I kissed him swiftly and said "I love you."

My only regret was the same lie

But I was still oblivious

Who would ever think it'd turn out this way?

I wasn't prepared either.

Running my errands as usual.

I slipped the key into the door.

I'd clean the house today.

Listen to music like I always did.

No sooner had I set the groceries down.

Than the silence broke.

I never saw it coming.

Not in a million years.

In honesty I was happy though

I hadn't been on great terms

With my dad for the past few years

But I swallowed my pride an apologized.

He was getting older.

I wanted him to know.

I would always be his daughter.

I called my sister too

We'd not been speaking as of late

But she was my sister all the same

I'd seen something once on the news

about a thief who killed a young woman.

Her friends and family sadly spoke of regret

She and her husband had fought that morning.

She and her parents hadn't been speaking

She and her siblings disagreed all the time

I never wanted to be that woman.

I thought life is too short

for such trivial problems.

So I made amends.

I wouldn't want the last words

For the people I love to hear

Be of hate and grudges.

No matter how bad they hurt me

or what they said themselves.

Pride just wasn't worth it.

What if something were to happen?

In honesty I was happy though

My loved ones weren't home.

It was just me that ate the bullet

From the thief who broke in.

Ironic I suppose, that I was that woman.

In only the way we met our ends

So I was okay with that.

It was just my time right?

I just wish I hadn't said

"I'd see you later" though.

I'm just so thankful really.

That I'd kissed my daughter.

Told my man I loved him.

Spoke to my parents,

Siblings and friends.

Life is indeed too short

There used to be those days

When I'd say, "I'm still mad."

"Maybe I'll make amends tomorrow.

"It's your fault not mine, so I'm waiting on you."

"I'm in a rush, baby. Mommy's got to go."

I'm glad I got rid of those days,

before today at least.

No matter how mad my Husband makes me

"I love you" will be that last words he hears

No matter how troublesome my daughter can be

She will always receive hugs and kisses

No matter who I love bothers me

I will always be the one to let it go

For what if another chance, or tomorrow

Never comes at all?

Author's Note

Life is too short. I got a call from my Husband's dad today, saying he'd heard about an elderly couple getting killed near where I live for drugs. He wanted me to be careful, especially since I live in an apartment complex. It just got me thinking I guess. What if I did die today? Would I be okay with it? I decided that I would be. But how awful would it be for someone who still holds grudges, or says they hate someone, then something happens and they never get to make it better? The last words I want someone to hear from me, I want to be good ones. I hope it's the same for many of you...

Reviews

[Patricia B. Hepler]

'No sooner had I set the groceries down.
Than the silence broke.'

'In honesty I was happy though
My loved ones weren't home.
It was just me that ate the bullet..'


This very much touched my heart, especially the quoted ^ above.. Yes, life is too short. Yes, we do want our loved ones to hear of our love for them.. Excellent, poignant poem. ~ pat

[Pi Cee]

This was certainly something. Almost made me cry. Life really is too short, and we do never know what's to happen. Thank you for this, I loved it.

[Willowtree]

Emily! I think about this a lot too! I seem to always worry that if I don't make up with someone and something bad happens to them, I'll never forgive myself. You just put it into writing so well! I read this without blinking.. I just had to read the entire thing in complete focus of the poem. It was a great one, good job!

[Pax]

the twist in the end sadden me..really well worth read.
Life is indeed too short. we might not know if we die today or tomorrow or in the future. I like the last stanza..it shows so much love she left behind...
great work.

[zainul]

I am very surprised to read that such concern of the dear ones in each community
is universal.Your poem is simply a wonderful one.I can't dissect it from organ to organ.I must say that a natural flow of thought and words was felt in each stanza
leading to a lovely end.
Use of some touching sentences/stanza have made me emotional.I can cite some of them.
1.I kissed him swiftly and said "I love you."
My only regret was the same lie
2.
No matter how mad my Husband makes me
"I love you" will be that last words he hears
No matter how troublesome my daughter can be
She will always receive hugs and kisses
No matter who I love bothers me
I will always be the one to let it go
For what if another chance, or tomorrow
Never comes at all?

Another thing which inspire me to think is how you make shape of poem that looks like an image of a structure.Would you please tell me how you measured sentences that finally created such nice structure?

Emily,before concluding I want to express my heartfelt congratulations for presenting an artistic piece retaining all the characters of a perfect poem.

[Serenity Faith]

In honesty, I wrote this exactly as it came to mind. The way it just fell into place was simply an accident I suppose. A good accident it seems. You picked out my most emotional lines. The ones that mattered most and the ones that I felt would get my feelings better across. Thank you Zainul ^_^ For giving such a heartfelt review. I truly appreciate it.

[zainul]

Thanks for the compliments,Emily.
Sometimes a person may encounter a good accident.
This is a very lovely discovery,indeed.
I feel very happy that I could pinpoint your most emotional lines.
I am also very glad to know we have similar mindset.
Thanks once again,my sweet friend.