For my mother, Mary.
Tuck me in again.
You will be glad you did
And that you were gentle with me
And that your heart was patient
And your voice loving.
Tuck me in this one more time.
Lift up the covers and ease me down
And with your tender hands
Slide my old legs and feet beneath these sheets
And hear me say, “My son. My oldest son.”
Now lean over close and kiss my forehead.
Tell me that you love me
And with your strong arms
Meet my feeble ones as I reach up for you like a child
And let us hug each other for the night.
I shall not need you to tuck me in tomorrow.
But this time will suffice.
Let us be thankful for it
And you for me, and I for you
And both of us for the love between us
And for the life we shared
And for our Savior, who gave us one another
And in whom we live.
Turn out the light as you leave the room,
And gently say good night.
Good night to you too, my son.
I will see you again soon
In the Morning.
Thank you, Bob. I needed this. I do so appreciate this sacred offering. After we bathed and dressed my mother, my sister and mom’s HCA left the room while I continued to adjust mom in her hospital bed. She died in my arms after her last breath. Your tender poem spoke comfort to my heart this day, 5 years later. 10:28 am. Thank You, Jesus, You never fail us nor leave us.
Thanks for sharing that poignant, hard, special memory, Marlene. It was the Lord’s grace that she passed away in the arms of you, her loving daughter. I am sure it was heartbreaking for you, and the tears still come at times. Our Lord doesn’t spare us sorrow and loss; rather, he enters them with us, for he knew them himself, and one day he will transform them into lasting joy and incomparable gain.