It’s time to go now, my child…

 

No! I can’t. I am too young, my kids are too small –

 

You’ve raised them well.

They’ll survive

 

I don’t want them to survive…I want them to live!

I don’t want them to scrummage and

scrimp, bags under their eyes, skin peeling off their feet – NO!

They should study, and travel and laugh

without abandon!

How can I make that happen if I am not around?

 

They’ll get to their destinations one day.

I promise you, they’ll be okay.  

 

But I want to be there –

for their graduations and weddings

and heartbreaks and successes –

 

You can always watch them from above – 

 

But I can’t make my son’s favourite dish from above

or hug my daughter and pull her cheeks.

Can’t you make an exception – they’ve been through so much

 

So have you,

you have fought hard,

you should be proud,

you did everything a mother should.

 

It’s not fair, others get to hold

their grandbabies and

live long enough to befriend their daughters.

Who’ll be there when they are lost?

or scared or confused?

 

They have each other, they’ll always do.

Their lives will go on without you.

They love you so much, you’ll stay within them

and you’ll find each other, in the end.

 

But –

 

Let me take care of you, my child

let me take you to the heavens above

your heart is failing and lungs are tired

I wish it wasn’t, but it’s time to leave

 

Then leave me be till the very last second,

let me soak in their faces

let them soak mine.

Let it be only me and them tonight

please don’t linger by my side.

 

Alright my child, I’ll step aside

but come morning, you must abide

for the road is beautiful but it is long

You needn’t worry, 

I’ll carry you in my arms