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
For my father... we made it through the night
He passed on the thirteenth... the day before my birthday