Poem: Homecoming

God’s left the porch light on,
His son’s come in
saying he has a friend expected over.
She should be on her way
any minute now.

She lingers on the road to heaven,
letting the ties of this world loosen gently.
She fingers the flowers, velvet smooth petals
caressing her skin along the path.

She pauses to contemplate the views,
the vistas of the setting sun
tinting magenta the clouds.
She takes a last inhalation
of the scents of creation,
disentangles from the last remaining
strand to earth.

A light beckons just ahead.
Hear a greeting, calling a name, hers.
He says, "We’ve been expecting you.
Come on in, daughter, friend of my Son
so good to see you here..
Your bed has been turned down
with fresh linens
and refreshments are on the table.
Jesus, pull her up a chair."

c.June 2004 Darlene Moore Berg

This poem was written with my mother-in-law in mind. She was in a coma after a stroke. A friend of mine quoted this poem in a sympathy card for me after my own mother's passing last month.