Woodall
she was
supposed to
blow out her candles
her 64 candles
this day
with her family
all around her
singing
but she got sudden sick
and went to the hospital
thinking she’d stay a few days
and go home
to her husband
but her body shut down
in one of those hospital rooms
and she died
with her family
all around her
crying
when night falls
they’ll go
and reach out to her
one last time
and he’ll feel like
a little boy … once more
needing her
to pick him up
and hold him tight
tell him it’s gonna be all right
and after it’s all over
and the preacher prays
that last prayer
and he goes home
to his wife and baby boy
he’ll feel like
a man
who has aged
too soon
TL