by Priscilla Shelley
We never know when the heart will tick last
We never know when the lungs will breathe
their last breath of life, a precious gift, taken for granted.
“You can do this assignment at home.”
“Don’t come to class Friday”
fled the words of a history professor in Cherry Hall.
Little did she know, that was a blessing in disguise
for a hopeful granddaughter
with a very sick grandpa in the hospital.
With no one knowing
when his heart would last tick or
when his lungs would breathe their last breath.
These words offered the granddaughter
just a little more time to be at his side
assured her that her grandpa would pull through,
just as he did every hospital visit.
It wasn’t but the next day, while by his left side,
1:11 pm, the fighting grandpa fought no more,
for he had breathed his last breath.
His heart ticked no more.
And the thing you dread the most:
putting your loved one in the cold, hard, ground,
and you will never see them again
on this side of eternity.
Something that can mean so little to you,
not having to come to class,
to someone else it could be
a blessing in disguise.
