Before the hold, before the relentless grey cold

 

Did you run wild against the wind,

Feel the warmth of open fires on your face?

Did you fearlessly let the waves crash all around you,

Breaking through as you willed to hold on strongly for release?

 

Did you love fearlessly like a fool,

No cares, no shame, no quarter, no pride?

Did you laugh, did you wear your humour as the clown,

Laugh with others loudly, laugh at yourself and others at you?

 

Did you chase every curiosity?

Letting moments take your thoughts away,

Did you pursue all your desires?

No matter the outcomes, no matter success,

just for the journey?

 

Did you allow yourself to unburden your pain

feeling the tears fall warmly down your cheeks?

Did you open your arms to the less fortunate

wear their shoes, give them comfort?

 

Before the hold, before the relentless grey cold

Before your greatest love began to slip away

 

I see you hold on, I see you tested

I see you boldly singing the last songs, stepping through the last slow waltz

Never relenting, remembering your joys, not to be bested.

 

Love manifests in your thoughtful word, your weakened yet wilful grasp,

your gentle determined smile as you try to break the hold,

and builds fires in all our hearts against the encroaching grey cold.

As you ask yourself of all these things, and share your doubts that you lived well, as best you could have,

 I can only offer that your best has been instilled in me, and you warm me against the cold.