Alive but not living.

Living after the death of a life-long love

In armchair old his body slumped
beside the unlit fire,
in a rested state, serenaded by
that evenings crickets choir.

Old and weary, bathed and clean
fresh clothes against his skin,
a hearty meal he'd tiredly ate
lay heavy deep within.

His age lined face, sun baked and dry,
fatigued, tired eyes half shut,
a ribbon red on jaw line shaved
where carelessly he'd cut.

Strains of "their" song filled the air
a smile played 'cross his lips,
he pictured his wife of fifty years
as she was all breasts and hips.

A tear he wiped from parchment cheek
a tear of loss and love,
two years now since she left his arms
to wait for him above.

Two years alive not living
he wanted off life's ride,
ready now in prayer he'd asked
to be taken to her side.

Author's Note

Might have tenses muddled,confuse myself at times

Reviews

[Serenity]

This is very beautiful and I absolutely love it. When you talk of their song filling the air, that part really speaks to me, but the ending is just so perfect. I absolutely love the ending, truly undeniably amazing

[Gee]

Thanks for the kind review.

[Jimmy Yetts]

Stately, yet, utterly lovely.
There is an undeniable idealism, here, that, in no way, disputes reality.
Work to be admired, Gee.

[Gee]

Very kind.Thanks Frankie

[Sophy Freebirds]

Its really an awesome trait to write something other than autobiographical. You have done really a good work here. *god bless you*. looking forward to read more of your works.

~Sophy

[Gee]

Thanks Sophy

[ANTO]

"He was ready now,in prayer he'd asked,
to be taken to her side,
two years alive, not living,
he wanted off life's ride. " ... Gee the entire poem was gorgeous - i have tiny suggestion - I would have loved to have read the second line in the stanza here as the finisher - its a showstopper of a line - a heartwrencher
:)

[Gee]

Have made the tiny change.Suppose this one is subconsciously written from my point of view.No good me living if the good lady wife pops her clogs,think the old ticker might break.And,on a lighter note,the washing would start piling up and make an awful mess of the house.Thanks for taking the time to read,suggest.I'd quite happily review yours but to be fair I ain't got a clue what's going on,hence the groundworking job.Every now and again pull one off a play school wall and post it on here and I'll review it.(Make sure you sign it in crayon otherwise people will think it's mine.)Cheers Anto

[bela]

when a dear one passes away an emotional feelings surrounds us.

i like these line most
He was ready now,in prayer he'd asked,
to be taken to her side,
two years alive, not living,
he wanted off life's ride.

nice poetry.

[Gee]

Thanks for a kind review bela

[Chris]

sometimes life muddles us - not the tenses at all.

How we deal with missing is what our lives become. You captured the gestalt very well.

[Gee]

"How we deal with missing is what our lives become" that alone is worthy of a poem and is so very true.I have to admit that I had never seen the word greatly before so had to go look it up.Thanks for a very kind and insightful review Chris.