Promises

“Don’t let me die in the hospital.”

Those words caused a catch in my throat,

Though they hadn’t been uttered by me.

My tears were check but pooled in my eyes,

As I drove quickly, but carefully,

Making conversations with depth,

As the fear of this stark reality, faced us both head on.

“If I am not going to make it through this,

Take me home and lay me down,

Beneath any one of the trees I so love.”

I swore to her that she wasn’t dying,

But if that were inevitably the case.

I would surely honor this simple request,

And lay my baby sister down,

In the arms of Gentle Earth.