I met death tonight 
he sat down by my side 
we watch and prayed, in silent, mourn 
over my father as he lied 

Bells and voices barely heard 
over the oxygen... silent breaths 
I wondered to myself, alone 
would he take his final rest 

Hours passed in retrospect 
I remembered through my life 
a violent man, he lived in rage 
a hard life so filled with strife 

He laid there, life, still hanging on 
as the fates met, rolled the dice 
I would not know what they had read 
but the room was cold as ice 

Death turned his head and looked at me 
said that all would be forgiven 
but before Dad left this worldly coil 
I'd have to release my hate, so driven 

No matter what this man had done 
I was his blood, his bone, his "Sire" 
what kept him here was guilt, unsaid 
and my heart so hard, on fire 

As tears ran down my face and cheeks 
I saw a light upon Dad's head 
I swear I saw an angel's hand 
...my heart filled full of dread 

I looked upon the angel's eyes 
I cried from my soul, so deep 
I begged him for another chance 
another day for Him, to keep 

I spoke out loud, so my dad could hear 
that I understood his pain, his torment 
not a man of words, so proud, he was 
tread a path so dark, abhorrent 

It's then I saw in my father's eyes 
as he looked deep in my soul 
I felt his grief, his embarrassment 
how he had lived his life so bold 

Time stood still as we conversed 
although not a word was said 
then Death ahem'd, and said farewell 
I could watch (And wait), in lieu, his stead 

All through the night I prayed alone 
that we both could have one more chance 
to mend our broken "Aiga" 
rebuild our familial anse 

Before I knew... the morn had broke 
the **** had crowed the day 
we had missed his final slumber 
but for long I could not say 

I stood up tall and leaned his way 
and kissed him upon his cheek
the hate had left us both... the same 
so spent we could not weep 




An Awakening © 12/07/2017 Roberto Carlos