| THE LIE...page 1 |
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The room's three shades were pulled down The drapes shut out the light The huge bed lay in shadows As if it were the dead of night The articles on the dresser; The table that stood nearby All contributed to the atmosphere Of someone about to die A glass and metal pitcher Of water sat on the stand While protruding from the covers Was one frail, blue-veined hand The tiny woman seemed almost lost Among pillows filled with down The effort of her ragged breathing Was the bedroom's only sound... The woman named Rebecca Ann Was at the tail-end of her life She had raised a lovely daughter And was still a good man's wife Her illness had grown chronic Though drugs kept the pain at bay But at times they left her feeling Like she could almost float away "And soon I will" she sadly thought "Not yet, but by and by" No more tests or hospitals She knew they'd sent her home to die The nurse was just a room away She checked in every hour Giving pills and checking vitals Her expression grim and sour... Her husband too, was always close She loved knowing he was near That was simply force of habit For they'd been married sixty years Thinking about her Joseph Made Rebecca's old heart ache There were things that needed tending to Before it was too late! All her life she'd put this off Saying, "One day, but not now" Then weeks and months turn into years And they slip away somehow It had begun so long ago Back when she was still a bride One slip.....an indiscretion That ever since, she'd had to hide! Right after they were married The army had sent him overseas Her friends were all still single And they would pester, beg and tease Until finally, after months alone She surrendered and went out Had she known what lay in store She'd have refused without a doubt! But Joe's tour had another year And some months left to go She knew that he would not approve But then, he'd never know... Unaccustomed to strong drink Her head was quick to clog Vaguely she remembered dancing And a handsome stranger through a fog The details were forever lost Things like his face and name... |
