Grandad

Goodbye

Peace for him was a slow withdrawal
Blood struggled viscous
Red taken over by white
Then turning blue.
Next skin, paper thin, also objected,
And space between bone
Ensured distance from earth reduced.

Health fell off him
Mind struggled to cope
But (thank god) stayed as mum did
‘Til just before the very end.

When, thin and tired, he proclaimed:
‘I must get out of here, I must leave this place’
He didn’t mention the room
Or even the house,
Death lacks time and space.

That afternoon he sat, like always,
in his comfy chair,
Cushion replaced muscle,
Dog nuzzled, nursed, instead of wife,

He closed dull eyes,
And lulled by the telly,
With short sharp breaths
Gave up his fight for life.