Although my life is near its end,
my death is nothing that I dread.
I'm calm and love is my old friend.
My fam'ly's here beside my bed.
That old man Satan's kept at bay.
I see him in the forest clear,
but, I won't play his game today.
My mind is free of any fear.

Enjoying time that I have left
is clearly all that I can do.
My mental skills are still quite deft.
My body, though, feels no more dew.
No flower reaching for the sun,
nor jogger running through life's fray.
'Twas lucky that I found the one;
the man I'm married to today.

I've been so blessed in many ways
with art and chess and poetry.
I lived when rock became the craze.
Emotions, then, were wild and free.
The hula hoop was quite the fad.
The other girls could do it well.
I sucked at it; which made me mad.
The boys would rather kiss and tell.

My early life was tough for me.
I always was a sickly child.
In order, I was number three.
Five sisters often got me riled.
Three brothers followed, we were nine.
In thirteen years, we all were born,
and, to this day, we all are fine.
I thank the sun most ev'ry morn.

So many gifts, she's given me;
the moon inspires such wondrous awe.
Heard baying wolves I could not see,
and saw a beautiful macaw.
Ferocious wings became a blur.
I saw the tigers at the zoo,
and wondered why they would not purr.
I even saw a kangaroo.

Young Joey sat inside her pouch.
So cute was he and so brand new.
His mother, though, was such a grouch.
She had a rather reddish hue.
Each time he tried to make her play,
she just ignored his plaintive pleas.
She ate from grasses that would sway;
blown softly by the summer breeze.

I've no regrets and would not trade
my lot in life with anyone.
I'm happy and my dues are paid.
In fact, I feel that I have won.
Though I no longer have my health,
I paint and write and play some chess.
I know that death arrives with stealth.
I'll treat him as a welcome guest.

However, there's one thing that's sure;
there's no escaping from his touch.
There's no prescription for a cure.
It matters not how hard I clutch.
My soul might live beyond my death;
won't know for sure until the end.
I'll take one last and ratt'ling breath
before I claim him as a friend.