And This Too

May my last thoughts be of
Childhood summer days,
Morning berries
Wet with dew,
Afternoon rains
After brutal sunlight
Leaves skin brown
And hair flecked gold.
Of Christmas-morning
Anticipations,
Flying ribbons,
Joyful squeals,
Warm smells,
Full bellies,
Counting the days
Until the next one.
Of test scores
Better than expected,
Papers returned
With no red markings,
Of hours spent lost
In the depths of a book,
Of football games
And homecoming dances.
Of falling in love —
The first time,
The last time,
Of love growing
Stronger and gentler
With the slowing
And graying of age.
Of babies being born
And children growing tall,
Of birthday hugs,
First days of school,
And sleepy stories —
Of knowing when
Everything seemed wrong,
Something was right.
May my last thoughts be
Of fog over a lake,
Lightning over a plain,
Flowers hiding in grass,
Honeysuckle on my tongue,
Bird sounds at daybreak,
Owl hoots at midnight,
And the purr of a cat.
May I think of
All I’ve loved and
All who loved me,
Of giving away,
And getting back,
Of holding tight,
And letting go,
And knowing when.
As I take my last breath
May I think of
Love that enveloped me,
Hope that sustained me,
Dreams that inspired me,
Loss that softened me,
Joy that buoyed me,
And you —
And this, too,
May I think of you.

