Somewhere In Between

Somewhere In Between

For really stupid reasons I hadn’t seen my last surviving grandfather or spoken to him in four years, other than on the phone when he would call.

He was admitted to the hospital yesterday. Tonight my father, stepmom, my sister and I went to see him. He was asleep, so we never got to talk to him. The nurse said he could live anywhere from 24 hours to a week. I watched him for several minutes, listening to his laboured breathing, knowing that soon he would be reunited with his wife, who died 11 years earlier. He would be free from pain. He’d be able to walk without his walker. He’d know heaven’s peace and eternal rest. But for now, he was caught somewhere between this world and the afterlife.

He died less than 2 hours after our visit.

I had already made this artwork and I was in the process of writing this poem when we got the call that he had died. Both this artwork and poem are dedicated to him and his 93 years.

Somewhere In Between
~
Too humble to be heaven’s worth
Too beautiful to be our fragile earth
Is this just some intangible dream?

I walk toward this brilliant light
With wings that carry me into the night
Yet still, I hear myself breathe.

I hear voices and clearly sense
A peace beyond human transience,
Something beautiful and divine,

I believe I hear the infinite chorus
Of all those who’ve passed before us
But I realize these voices lie not ahead, but behind.