The Loveliest I’ve Ever Seen You

for Granmary              Philippians 2:27

In this season of good-byes I visited you
A different woman than the one I’ve known -
                        grey hair finally left to itself
                                                wildly beautiful as it
                                                spreads out from your smooth face.
Precious face, with its new
                        definition of bone, hollow eyes,
                        still lovely though empty
                                                and desperate to see me.
Trembling, agitation in the bones
                        as your body fights this
                                                mortal imprisonment.
No voice, you try anyway
                        fighting yourself.
                                                I am across that chasm,
                                                and though desperate to understand you - cannot.
My eyes keep going back to your face
                        always lovely, I think now you are
                                                the loveliest I’ve seen you,
                                                on this threshhold into eternity.
As if you look back over your shoulder
                        before you step through the gate,
                                                You bless me.
                                                This I hear and understand.

But it is I who say the first good-bye.
I’ll not have another chance.
You wait for me in eternity, loveliest of women.