Permission Poem by Lonnie Hicks

Love has splendid arrows in it's quiver
none greater than mine for you.
No heart has strained toward
devotion more
than mine given.

You have been for me
Loves Only,
and by your side
my heart breathes.
To go away from me
is unthinkable.

But you will I know;
cancer-stricken
say your brave goodbye
and go as you always have
unfeelingly
or so
it seemed to me.

And I am always
at odds
with the love I give
and the strength you show
even as you lie
dying
I am asking even now
another permission-
to love
as you move on-
and for you to permission me
to love another
yet to come.

Say the words:
'Love's Released
move on.'
But you will not.

I,
I am still giving
at Death's Bed
hoping you'll grant me new life
and a new breath
co-mingled with yours
here now
last taken.