Declaration of intent

Declaration of Intent

 

She had always said,

As she sat in her chair

Or propped up in bed

That she would live

Until she was a hundred

That is what she said

 So frequently to me

It filled me with dread

That she could still be there

As I aged too you see

She would loudly declare

For any that were there

To get it in their head

That she would not be dead

For years yet so if

You thought she would be

Better become aware

She would still be fed

And cared for in her bed

Still more care to give

With ten more years to live

So imagine my surprise

Now she is not alive

I believed her when she said

How long she could thrive

That she would survive

‘Til she was a hundred years

Yet suddenly she was dead

And eyes so full of tears

 

 

The Presentation of the Rose 

It became the custom over time together

To make a gift of the years first Rose

Having suffered all of winters weather

When another chance of rebirth arose

 

To step firmly forward and try again

Not an olive branch but a simple rose

Close confinement can become a pain

To start again in each spring I chose 

Faintly veiled offering of renewed peace

I watched it growing my pretty Rose

She pained as infirmity would increase

A sacrifice from me to her I suppose 

Taking the single bud up to give

Minds last weak fight to keep my Rose

Past moods and hurtful words to forgive

Her elderly last resort effort to oppose 

Giving and receiving done with good grace

The glorious beauty of this newest Rose

Hope temper can take a slower pace

As one heart gives love and another froze