When I am Unable

 

I find the need to write about

the possible reality for me.

Why? Because of my advancing

age and the mounting of my

physical and mental incapa-

bilities.

When the words come no more

and I am rendered speechless…

When every summer and spring

are lost to endless winters alone…

When I have lost the feeling of

security and the surety of home…

When I am unable to bridge

the gap between

yesterday with today and

tomorrow’s abyss arrives the same…

When I am here and not there

as the knock of friendship

arrives…

When music and art fail to

soothe and inspire…

When the sun, moon and stars

no longer shine a mystery and

wonder to me…

When I am incapable of caring

for others and cannot receive

their charitable outreach to me…

When humor fails to bring

laughter and common sense

no longer achieves…

When I can no longer stand

on my own and accept

or perform my

dwindling responsibilities…

When trying loses its meaning

When I no longer search for,

laugh and weep for the childhood

recollection in me…

When the people and places I have

known fade into oblivion

and I couldn’t care less about

what oblivion means.

It is then I am done, for I have

lost the joyous reality of you

and the essence meaning of me.

I pray I live knowing one more

lucid day in remembrance

before that day arrives.

You wouldn’t happen to have

a cigarette on you, would you?

          -30-

Chris Hanch 3-8-2021