‘Final Journey’ – A poem by Dr V J Dheepthi Shree

The Indian Association of Palliative Care celebrated this year’s World Poetry Day by publishing ‘A symphony of Words: A collection of poems‘ penned by our very own friends from the palliative care community. We continue to share a poem, each week, for our friends to enjoy!

The poem for this week, Poem #22 of 25..

‘Final Journey’ – A poem by Dr V J Dheepthi Shree, Chennai, India

Hopes, dreams and ambitions,
Losing it all layer by layer,
Walking through the edge of uncertainty,
With silent tears and unseen aches,
She is getting ready.

IV lines and nasal cannulas become the new way of life,
Hair or no hair like she even has a choice,
Forgotten routines, walks and sunsets,
Burning all her desires,
She is getting ready.

Making her comfortable cotton bed,
Reading her favourite storybook,
With her grandchildren playing around her,
Her daughter feeding her every meal,
She is getting ready.

Midst of treating her exacerbations,
Living that small life a bit,
Leaving no time to feel sorry,
Making every minute count,
Because she is getting ready.

It may be worsening physically,
But her intangible mental faith to hold on,
Making everyone around her go awe,
Teaching her kin how to live without regrets,
She is getting ready.

She is bold, courageous and strong,
No clue how long she can hold on,
No idea how long the universe will bestow her with blessings,
With zero expectations she wakes up every morning with a smile,
Even though she is getting ready.

A few days cannot be tougher,
While a few days cannot be more merrier,
Taking her to every place she ever wanted to be,
Making all her memories count,
As she is getting ready.

Time flies faster than we imagine,
Only to remained her its time,
It’s time for her final journey,
And she is already primed,
Wearing her beautiful smile and waving goodbye.