Uncle John

*So how old are you now,
Uncle John?*
But you don't hear me,
Sitting on the lawn.

So I ask again,
And you supply,
*A pair of eights*
As your reply.

You squint at me
And say with a smile
*Ive had a family
Ive lived for a while,

I'm ready to die
Any day now.*
I love you too much,
This I cannot allow.

I tell you *No,
You have a few years to go.*
You look at me
As if I'm slow.

I tell you to *Sit back,
enjoy your old age*
You say, *In this body,
I'm trapped in a cage.*

I understand this
You were a workaholic
Now with your walker
You cannot frolic.

You were a strong man
With goals in sight
And you accomplished them all
Come sun or come blight.

Now an old man
With skin and prostate cancer
You're ready for death,
It is your answer.

You had a great life
You were a good man too
So go onto heaven,
Gods waiting for you.

***This is dedicated to my Great Uncle John. We really had a conversation very similar to this poem. I do love him a lot, but hes had a wonderful life, and if hes ready to die, then I suppose I accept that, as hard as it is. (His 88th birthday was July 24 2004.)***