I Only Touch The Dying. Poem by Geoffrey Fafard

All these tough years
All the hollow winds
That speak to me hiding
Here under the threat
Of death coming
Remind me of my touch
My soft hand stroking
His skin or her face
My lost tear on a sheet
All crisp and white and
Deadly

I want to hold onto
This one at death
But not yesterday
Not when I was a baby
Not when winning
Nor when I was losing
Not ever till now
When I am again with
The terminal death entrant
Another one to touch
Goodbye

My hands they cry
My tears they fall
My heart stops and listens
To the rhythm of their breath
So many now I have touched
Dying goodbye gone
Leave my fingers
Leave my tears
Talk about me over there
He touched me you know
Sadly.