Hi all,

I guess I haven't posted in almost 8 months now (wow... that's longer than I thought...), but I've been lurking around a lot. I was reading Bobo's Mom's fic "When the Goddess Calls" about Willow and Tara as they've grown old (If you haven't read it, you should). Anyway, it reminded me of this poem that I wrote last year when I was thinking about what it would be like to lose your soulmate. Some of the specifics don't quite work for Willow and Tara (I used the name Leah because it was the first that popped into my head), but I think that the general feel of it can be applied to w/t, or what one of them might think after the other has passed on in old age. Sorry mods if it's too off-topic, as it is not directly about w/t. Everything's pretty much the way that I wrote it last year, although I did just add the lines about the cane after reading Bobo's Mom's fic



Well, I guess I'll stop rambling and actually get to the poem:

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Following You



Tears and memories fall away.

The porch swing

squeaking each time

Protesting its load.



Burnt eggs and frozen bacon

I tried my best.

You knew I was never a cook,

but you still took a bite,

although you regretted it.



Lazy mornings

Postponing the day

As we attend

to more urgent matters.



And then in the evening,

Mimicking clumsily

the graceful moves

of those more talented,

I danced a jig

that my creaking knees

would not now allow.



Or maybe they would

But you are not here

to watch and smile

as I stumble

Or maybe stumble along with me.

So there's no point in trying.



Your perfect hands

Your perfect smile

Your perfect you.



Tears and memories fall away.

You fell away.

Nature's grasp was stronger

than my own.



Where did she take you?

I lack the religious conviction

to pretend that I know.

But if I were sure of a way

to see you again,

I would follow.



Tears and memories fall away.

We looked in the mirror

Together asking

"When did this happen?"



I assured you

that I always thought

canes were sexy.

You told me

You didn't mind

a little weight on your woman.

More places to hold on.



But you couldn't keep your hold.

You forgot

Reading

Walking

Eating

Me.



And then I couldn't help you anymore.

Why? Why? Why?

"It's just her time,"

They said.

But I wasn't ready.

Shouldn't you wait for me, too?



Tears and memories have fallen away.

There are no more to fall.

I am ready now.



Leah

My life's name.

I whisper my soul,

releasing it to follow yours.

Stepping with faith into uncertainty

to find my other half.



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-Nora