The First Thing I Will Ever See
By John Herlihy

This is the first thing I will ever see,
My mother’s love smile down upon me.
Wrapped snugly in her maternal cocoon,
I awaken, I doze, I whimper, I even swoon,
I am her whirling planet; she is my moon.

This is the first thing I will never forget to see,
The ocean whose waves washed over me,
So vast, so endless, is this nature’s best?
I will follow the tides in pursuit of my quest,
Clear to the horizon where exotic birds nest.

This is the first thing I will always remember to see,
You looked up, smiled, and then gazed upon me,
I could journey the earth with you at my side,
You support my efforts and my every stride,
You were the only one with whom I could confide.

This is the last thing I will always remember to see,
The day that you no longer recognized me,
Your body still here but the mind had slipped away,
Remember me, I entreated, I need you to stay,
As I remember thee so you never need to stray.

This is the last thing I will never forget to see,
Adoring grandchildren who surrounded me,
They chased balloons and smiled at rainbows,
Showering me with love as only God bestows,
When I am gone, they will remember and know.

This is the last thing I will ever see
In this glorious world about to abandon me.
Sun breaking the dawn, stars ushering in dusk,
Lady bugs walking on leaves, ripening corn husk,
As I close my eyes to the world as I know I must.