'Belle'

I had forgotten
what is found
just sitting
at the bedside
of someone
near to death
and holding a hand

I spoke a few words
and she tried too

but mostly we just sat
holding hands

I read Psalm 139
which brought tears to her eyes
and then I sang
the refrain from our wedding day
taken from that psalm

"If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea
even there shall you guide me
even there shall you hold me"

she nodded in and out of sleep
all the while
trying to remove her wisp of a blanket
with motion almost invisible to detect

and she reached
never letting go of my hand

her blue eyes would wake
and try to tell me
things I can only imagine
and surely never comprehend

I can still smell her smell
even now at the end of the day

the end of life
so still
in the midst of all the noise
and busyness of this world

this time
no questions asked
no opinions expressed

this time
timeless