May I suggest clicking “Play” on vid below prior to reading, for enhanced reading pleasure…
*****************
Poppa laid his favorite book down, his weary head upon the pillow, (boy said) “Doc’s orders, ya got to do this Pop, ya know he’s the best in Amarillo.”
Orders for what he thought without remorse, it was his life to live, his to not, a simple matter of course.
Family and friends had come to visit, stopping in they’d say “been so long since we saw you last, thought it high time we came by for the day.”
She had never failed to hear him, never failed to stand beside him, marriage sealed in friendship, they saw each other through thick and thin.
Plowshare to his coulter, would be her to see him through, cutting a final furrow in earth’s diminishing field, the last thing to do.
Poppa’s head lay still upon the pillow, book marked, set carefully aside; lying there beside him, she held his hand and cried.
GirlieOnTheEdge's Blog 
A sad story well told.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was said yet, a testament to their mutual love and devotion.
Thank you, Mimi.
LikeLike
This is a beautiful story. And the song, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Romi. I’m glad you like both 🙂
LikeLike
Oh gosh, knock-me-flat heart-grabber. So well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Avia!
LikeLike
Sincerely welcome, my pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Plowshare to his coulter, would be her to see him through, cutting a final furrow in earth’s diminishing field, the last thing to do.” You made me cry. Just beautiful!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Liz. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful. A “marriage sealed in friendship” and “cutting a final furrow in earth’s diminishing field”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Liz said it all for me and I’m wiping away a tear; that penultimate sentence did for me. We always called my paternal grandfather ‘Poppa’ (or later ‘Pop’). Long gone now but fondly remembered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Chris. I can think of no better affirmation to a piece than it evoked emotion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very effective word spell.
cool
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Clark.
LikeLike
Also welling up. Beautiful sound and vision.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked it, Laura 🙂
LikeLike
well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, sir 😀
LikeLike
I’m feeling a bit slow. This story went over my head and left me confused. If his wife died, who is holding his hand? I didn’t understand this. Maybe it’s too heavy for my year long quarantined brain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading, Joyce. It’s about a man reaching the end of his life. His wife was with him, holding his hand when he died.
LikeLike
Friendship in marriage is the best. good sounds too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, Arlene. For sure. Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLike
Such a beautiful tender SSS and the song a perfect accompaniment. Tears here too.
LikeLike
Thank you, Pat.
Yeah, I thought so too. Funny, wasn’t even looking for a song, just tuned into YouTube and there it was 😀
LikeLike
Tender and sweet, dignified. Moist eyed now with that last line. I like how he had his fave book with him at the end, as well as that trusted hand which was holding his at the end. The Larkin Poe song is a fitting companion to this poem. Can see why you love ’em, D, (not the first time LP has cropped up 😎 ) Their voices and guitar work are always excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, V. I always feel I’ve written something decent if I can get reactions such as yours. We should all be so fortunate. Magical how certain elements appear that pull things together. Had the bones of this piece, yet like a spare rib – needed more meat. As I was telling Pat, the LP song was first in my Y-Tube feed Thursday morning as I was readying for work. Just knew that was the one 🙂 Agreed 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, agree about those magical elements coming together! Beautiful when it happens 😊 Question: that ending, did it make you sad/cry too? Or were you distant from it as a writer? When I write something hard-emotional I’m pleased if I can make myself teary, as maybe I hit the right spot? Even though I suppose it’s a personal thing and others might have different reaction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, man…you ask the tough questions, V. Not a bad thing 🙂 Simple answer: yes. Extended play version? 😀.. As I wrote the first words, the framework, I knew it would be a sad story but it wasn’t until I heard the song, kept hitting replay I don’t know how many times, that I knew/felt I could write the story. If that makes sense. There are times when music is the bridge for me when I write. Playing a song over and over – sometimes it takes me where I need to be. And if I’m lucky, the words come, perhaps haltingly at first, drawn by the emotion the music evokes in me. I don’t know… listening to “You Can Close Your Eyes” while writing, I was confident I would complete the story. When it was finished, and before I hit “publish”, I read it while the song played. Tears streamed softly down my cheeks. So what is it V, that we doubt anyone will react as we have to our stories, to our poetry?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, D, no more tough questions (at least until next week 😁 ). You’re right about the bridge that music makes – a few times I’ve done that, sometimes a song yells to be linked with a story or poem, and as you said: can take you where you want to be.
If people find the same emotions as we do (as writers) then we’ve made magic, as the reader wants to see themelves reflected in the story? What would I do now, how would I react, how do I feel etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful, touching story and music choice. That said, you know I don’t cry easily but here we are…got tissues?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa. I got ya covered 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person