Letter From A Dying Woman

the time has come
for me to pack my bags
to turn off the hallway lights
to lock the doors
for I’m going away
with a one way ticket
to a place where everybody will go
but no one is supposed to come back
to tell others what it looks like
to tell who lives there.

the time has come
and there’s no turning back
no more pleadings, no more prayers
could turn it back
the angel with ebony wings
has landed his feet for me
no, you can’t hold me back
even if you tug with all your might
I’m no longer yours
I now belong to somebody
a spirit belongs to a spirit.

the time has come
a wind will blow out the candle
soon darkness will embrace me
will swallow me with delight
but there will be no more pain,
no more agony, I hope.
reaching that place
will be different, so different
and so are you
without me

the time has come
the night is here
tomorrow is far behind
the sun will still be here
but I will not be there for it
the birds will still sing
but I will no longer hear it
the rain will still pour
but I will no longer feel it
shed those tears now
save it in your heart
until we meet again.

For Sondra Ball who passed away in the first hours of Wednesday, March 17th 2010. She was a wonderful poet, haijin and very hard working editor of Autumn Leaves. Her spirit will forever live in our hearts.