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Traci M. Poli

Tears for Grandmom

Why must waning years be so difficult to bear?
Hearts ache
watching loved ones slowly cease to be.
Radiant and loving once.
It hardly seems fair,
that all should be lost,
even dignity.

Constant pain
and fear bring joyous lives despair.
Where is the peace
for those who've served so well?
Declining now,
yet still they are aware.
Waiting,
waiting,
the tolling of the bell.

And little comfort is found
when their
memories are stolen
by fickle fate or cruel chance.
They're surrounded by loving strangers
who wear
crystal tears
and somber black to life's last dance.

Why should so precious
a thing as life
end not in peace,
but cut like a knife?