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this is my brother's poem.........he's a professional writer, and has given me permission to submit one of his works on this board, even though it has been copywritten

he wrote it a couple of years ago, but just shared it with the family yesterday........it's about our father's death on Xmas Eve 10 years ago of a heart attack while in bed.......for me, this is powerful stuff, but i have a feeling that anyone who's ever lost a loved one would find this just as moving

true, it's a bit of a downer, but it's beautiful art........i hope it touches you in some way.....

Go...

Release your breath and go,
Give up the urge to grip and fight,
Don't leap from the comfort of your last bed
as your last sun paints the early window pink
Don't lunge for the mocking telephone out of reach,
Don't dial for the white-coated ghouls who ushered you
to this moment on a carpet of your hard-earned green
Embrace the burning brick between your lungs
and lay on back content,
Heed not the screaming alarm between your ears,
Let the cold beads run off your forehead unremarked,
Ignore the fire that streaks to your kind left hand,
Unclench your jaw and let your eyes enjoy the light
before the darkness, then the Light,
Allow the last of your steam to gently puff your salt and pepper cheeks,
Send it out to mist the cool December air,
Release your earthen agony and fly with it
not lingering here one minute more,
Enjoy the last brilliant flashes as your good brain fades to slumber


Remember my face,
Remember the first time you saw my face,
Remember the squeeze of my arms,
Bring with you the memory of our meaningless morning rituals,
Commend me to the ancestors you will surely meet,
Hold me in your broken heart as you fly,
Feel sad for me that I must wait for what you will enjoy,
Feel glad that I will someday taste the sweetness you're about to sip,
Remember my laughter, remember sorrow, remember our dreams,
Remember my willingness to please and my obstinacy,
Release your subtle disappointments and deep regrets,
Release your unrealized potential,
Release the oppression of your father's expectations,
Release the oppression of your fatherly expectations,
Release your final breath and go forever,
Go gently,
Go for now,
Go and wait for me,
Wait for us,
For we will not be long.

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"they've been going in and out of style....but they're guaranteed to raise a smile"

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