The Withering Leaf

[vw256]

Well, I had a rotation in Palliative Care not so long ago, and I really felt for the patients there with terminal diseases. So, I scribbled down something... not really a poem, more like a string of words. Here goes:




When I arrived,
The movie had just begun…
People around me were smiling,
But I was the only one crying.

Now the end is approaching…
Curtains are closing…
My heart is pounding…
But for how much longer?

You poison life,
But colours of life will never fade.
You haunt me,
But you can never take my smile away.
Life gives way to Death…
You exist only because I do.

I’ve climbed mountains,
But you haven’t…
I’ve known Love,
But you haven’t…
I’m ready to bid farewell…
Are you?

Even if the Sun may never shine for me again,
I’m not afraid…
And I’ll continue to smile.

I’ll continue living life,
So that when you take me to the next stage,
People around me will be crying,
But I’ll be the only one smiling.

[spotysocks]

This surely reflects life illness and death, sad but real. Good jobmile:

[fjp999]

That was very powerful. Thanks for sharing.

[vw256]

thank you. i was quite emotionally attached to those patients, but i was quite amazed by how well they coped with their illness. i guess they understood that death is part of the life cycle and the thing to do is to try to enjoy life till the very last day.

[fjp999]

It really is an amazing mind set such patients develop - the ability to deal with so many complex issues at once and find satisfaction within it all.