April 4, 2023

my father passed away some years ago

he’d been dying for quite a long time

(but then, aren’t we all … dying, that is)

he faced his end with grace and courage

“don’t do a computer trick on me” he said

(since turning a computer off, then on again

fixes ninety-five percent of computer problems)

“if I’m going to go then let me go

to where I’m going

let me go

to where I can walk again

let me go

to dance before His throne”

so we let him go, Mom and Ellen and I

we had no choice, really

he died in a different home than ours

one moment he’s singing his favourite hymns

the next moment he says

“I see Jesus!

He’s come to take me home!”

and died

and followed Jesus to His home

(his nurse told me this, a few days later)

how could we, still breathing, weep

so glorious a departure demands respect

demands our endless thanks to God

for giving us so great a gift as peace

when He took my father home