Behind the Curtain

Behind the curtain lay a man dying

A man we never had the chance to love

At first glance I was surprised

To walk into a room and see him there

His life laid bare, for all to see

No privacy, no dignity

It didn’t feel right

The end of life so open to all

Watching and waiting for the inevitable 

It didn’t feel right 
To sit and wait, to watch and stare 

We drew the curtain for some privacy

I held the hand of the man I’d once called Grampy

Even grumpy at times 

Memories are few 

But I remember his smile, and his stubbornness 

Once I squished marshmallows down the back of his top

He was so mad!

I feel, so sad

The man in front of me on the bed

No longer looks like the man I once knew

His hair turned grey

His body so frail

Eyes shut tight 

We spoke to him

We talked over him – it didn’t feel right 

To be at his bedside knowing that I’d never had the chance to love him

The chance taken from us through no fault of our own

Behind the curtain lay a man dying 

A man we never had the chance to love

I held his hand, I said goodbye 

I kissed his head and whispered in his ear

I love you

I knew it was the last goodbye

The last time I’d see him

I’ll remember the good 

As others do not

As others live in ignorance, or arrogance I believe 

The past is the past 

It’s too late now

We never had the chance to love you

I’m glad we had the chance to say goodbye 

RIP Grampi x