The Last Walk

This poem was written soon after the death of a good friends wife after an 18 year struggle with cancer.  As he told me about his last walk before she passed I tried to imagine the feelings and the moment.  Grieving is a journey and this is how I move through grief. I hope this might help someone else move on in that journey.


The Last Walk                                                               Stephen J. Jeffries               
 

The sky surrounds us
                                with the glow of an early autumn sunset.

I feel the wind to our backs

                               as we stepped gently down the gravel road.

The winter chill had began to set and made our steps a little quicker

                                                     quicker maybe but not anxious

                                                                                        to hurry our time together.

These times were the great times.

These times when we did not have to share our selves

                                                                         with the world,

only with each other.

Some times it was a quiet time.

The only noise was that of an occastional passing truck or tractor

                                                  or the crunch of leaves beneath our feet.

Years of marriage,......... of loving,........... gave us the freedom of silence.

No need for small talk or nervous chatter.

There was comfort in our silent tongue.

                                                 Comfort knowing the shared thoughts

                                                     and the shared love did not require words.

But words came.

                                                                                                                           The children,

and all the many blessings they have given and how their lives will be a tribute to our love,

                                                                                                                           filled our hearts.

Our love will live forever in their hearts and lives

                                                                             and in that of their children.

As we clasp hands,

not knowing that this would be our last walk down this winding country road,

I felt the spark and the spirit

                                           that had carried us to this place.

It felt like the breath of God upon our

                                                      shoulders and neck,

                                                                                   lifting us up.

We knew God and God knew us

                                                                                             and peace filled us.

We never talked that night about endings,

or the possibilities of life and sickness.

We did not know this was the last walk,

                                                            or should we have.

Walking and living should always be as if it was the last time.

As if our fragle lives might end this moment.

not living in sadness,

                                                                                   but living in the joy of loving.

We only get one chance to hold each other in our hearts.

To live like tomorrow may never come.

To walk each day as if it is your last walk together.

                                                                                                              She is gone now.

Gone now from the pains of this world.

                                              But not gone from the love.

One day I will be able to walk that rockie country road again,

                                                                                    this time with only God by my side,

God and the spirit of my loving wife.

It will be hard but I know her hand will still caress mine

                                                as I walk shoulder to shoulder down the winding roads of life.

Her thoughts and mine will still shout to the heavens

WHAT A BLESSING OUR LOVE CONTINUES TO BE !
 
Live your love like the road you are on

                                                                                                is your first together.

Live your life like the road,

                                where ever it is headed,

                                                                                                                                  is the last.