Tasting the Stars

The bubbles went straight to her head

As she shouted love into the void

Falling is easy, she said

Like falling to sleep, amidst the noise

Life has its way of slipping away

You never know which day might be your last

Taste the stars, drink them in like champagne

Fall with me, she said, raising her glass

Then her gaze drifted away to the sky

And a dream settled there on her face

It’s all an adventure, even when you die

And in an instant her smile was replaced

A look of wonder filled her eyes like a storm

A familiar stranger waiting on the horizon

She pulled her blanket up to keep her warm

And whispered, we all get our day in the sun

I watched her sleep like I had in the past

Sixty three years and she still leaves me breathless

Love gently ripples the stones that are cast

Reliving memories to tell as time passes

Shooting stars burning out in a flash

Their beauty burning bright pathways to heaven

She believes that we all will arise from the ash

And join the angels in a holy precession

But these days I don’t know what to believe

Watching her disappear before my eyes

Death is an illusion of what we perceive

Ultimately leading us through waves of goodbye

Last call and last chances have come to knock on my door

And I wait hoping they will pass by

It is no surprise what they have come here for

But in this moment I will put up a fight

For another one of her smiles and tender touch

To watch the sunset and sunrise

Tell me, is it really asking too much

To view another day through her eyes

For now her breathing has deepened

She is off again, in a dream

Her inhibitions happily weakend

Dancing under the milky moonbeams

Or maybe on beach in the sun

Soaking up the warmest sun rays

Her adventures finally begun

With nothing to get in her way

Collecting stars on the shoreline

That fell for her the way that I did

Convincing the clock for more time

Awaiting prince charming's first kiss

Maybe she's traveled to when she was a kid

Running bare footed through clovered meadows

Doing those things she'd always wished that she did

Or just snuggled up on the couch feeling mellow

I run my fingers through her hair

And she nuzzles my hand

To see her without a care

Makes me feel happy again

Though I know it's the beginning

Of her final farewell

Her grin has me grinning

and falling all over myself

It's like time has stopped

When she is lost in her sleep

And for all that I've got

She's not meant for me to keep

She is a gift I was granted

The best I've ever had

And though I've cussed and ranted

I know one day he'll take her back

Another angel called back to heaven

Her task on earth has been done

Sent down to make an impression

And remind us the meaning of love

But I can't help but feel kind of angry

Because she's become my whole world

I sit and stare blankly

At what my life is without her

Then she reached for my hand

And held my face up to hers

You know, it all happened so fast

It was nothing but a blur

A soft breeze tousled the curtains

Her soft breath released with a sigh

I could not be for certain

But felt a feather brush my side

And just like that, she'd crossed over

While I was still lost in her dream

Begging god for a do-over

When her last call washed over me

So, listen and learn from my lesson

Drink in the stars like a glass of champagne

Don't take one second for granted

For they will not pass this way again