An emptied heart

When I take my last breath -

assuming wrinkled skin,

arthritic bones

failing hearing and sight

memories my dearest company

both day and night,

that is, after

a life long in years

not cut short

by

illness,

violence,

or disaster -

when I have lived

long enough

to find death

a welcome end

to what has been,

I will have loved

deeply

completely

unconditionally

those whose paths

intertwined

with mine

over time

leaving

nothing

but an

emptied heart

behind.