Death Song Poem by Ted L Glines

Death Song
by Ted L Glines

Old Apache woman
laid on her robes
bony hands clasped
on her empty breast
eyes closed - moving
perhaps remembering
playing hoops-and-sticks
as a little girl
maybe seeing two husbands
who lived and died
too fast
perhaps watching
two sons growing
loving - making children
all grown and gone away
everything goes away
and I wait
as she sleeps
barely breathing
holding her hand
and she mumbles

“I am dreaming,
let me never wake up
for if I awake,
I shall die.”

All through that time
days cast grey light
upon her old face
brown lines in her face
white hair shining
nights rained red reflections
from the fire
she never stirred
until
with tears from ancient eyes
she looked at me
sighed and smiled
for one memory moment
thanking me for waiting
before closing those eyes
to begin her journey
to the stars.

I sing for her.