Lament

 

This past October the Touby Cousins trekked to McKenzie Bridge, Oregon for our second annual reunion.  My mother had so hoped to be able to make the journey, but as time drew near she realized she was just not able.  She asked that we read this poem she had written (neither Nancy nor I thought we could do it, so Charlotte volunteered).  It was a sobering moment.

Lament

I've waited too long
To travel Northwest -
California, Washington and Oregon.
Friends invited me there,
I wish I had gone -
Now I've waited too long.

I've waited too long
To visit Vermont
in the beautiful fall of the year.
It's such a lovely season,
What was my reason?
Now I've waited too long.

I waited too long
to read the great books -
the History, the Classics,
the Bible I planned.
Others, too, through the years that have spanned,
Sadly, I've waited too long.

I've waited too long
To finish the cross-stitch
or the quilt top from fabric I've saved.
I look back o'er the years
and recall with some tears
Those little girl dresses I made.

I've waited too long
To learn to play jazz
at the piano I love so much.
My fingers, no longer nimble,
My hands seem to tremble,
I've simply lost my touch.

I've waited too long
Now that I have the time,
I can no longer see well enough.
To finish these tasks,
the time has passed.
Sadly, I've waited too long.