The Passing

From a window, sad with rain
Cast a gaze in ancient strain
Milky stones awash in pain
In thought where cast anon

Fear of death was not her own
Nor was it facing death alone
But fear those milky eyes had shown
For what there lay beyond

Thoughts of darkness, thoughts of pain
Thoughts of hell danced on the brain
Fearful of the Devil’s flame
She languished on and on

Was it grief that lay in store?
Doomed to pain forevermore?
Or would she face some other horror?
The worse for one to don?

Long she lay there through the night
Long her heart beat weak with fright
Death was such a fearful plight
But one quite doomed to come

Hours slipped her fearful mind
Until she lost all track of time
She longed to leave the pain behind
Her wispy will undone

And then, as soft as summer rain
A gentle touch found her again
A sweet caress both strong yet tame
And warmer than the sun

She blinked but once, and through the dark
An ancient memory found her heart
A loving face, her counterpart
That bore her worries numb

The room in stillness cold had grown
Set to a single, steady tone
The lovers lay as stark as stone
Tears fell strong from one

But on his wife, there lay a grin
Reflecting joy felt once within
For joy she felt before the end
Bore, fearless, she beyond