We had said our good-byes and holding
Our hands we surrounded his bed.
The chaplain with his deep, slow
Soothing voice read Psalm 23 and
Prayed.
We sang his dad's song for such
Occasions, "Jesus Loves Me," and then
The sensitive ICU nurse, also a believer,
Removed Mark's breathing apparatus.
We waited, almost holding our breaths,
Expecting our dearly loved one to take
His last.
But Mark lived on and on.
Sobs and laughter.
How can they co-exist?
But they do, in a dying room.
We talked about heaven.
Would Mark see Jesus first or his
Folks?
Like the song writer, we couldn't possibly
Imagine.
We composed an obituary condensing Mark's
Sixty Five years to a few paragraphs.
I wrote it out so it would be ready to go when
Mark does.
When it was dark I drove home trying hard to keep
My mind on the surprisingly busy freeway.
And this morning, we're still waiting.