I have had the privilege of being with a handful of people just before they made ready to pass from this world. Being with the dying is an honor as far as I am concerned. When it meets my mind's vision; it is the moment when the truth of the person is most ignited. I seem to have seen these people do what is known as “rallying” to dance just once before they let go. My girlfriend's husband (Lou) had admiration that allowed him friends and family that wanted every minute with him. Some of those friends were Doctors. These Doctors were able to keep him out of pain without losing his passionate spirit and personality, that spoke so well of him.. One of the men who were there to support him was a Doctor and Oncologist and Lou was dying of Cancer at age 54. To his credit I watched him rally one last day doing his fantasy baseball and eat his favorite sandwich even though his body had already started shutting down. The ability to eat in the mist of dying for me speaks to the power of the human spirit. He also got to read my last written words to him. He told my girlfriend, his wife; that I was a poet. Lou’s words were: “Why Dona is a Poet”. I think coming from a man who was dying; his words took on a whole new meaning for me. I was able to say I am a Poet with a bit more confidence. This is my knowledge brought to me from people in who are close to their last days.
