old version of Goodbye

I held him.
Pale and plump,
skin like cold rubber
Soft blue lips
on the verge of
a quiet smile

Thick lashes resting
on dry cheeks
Ears deaf
to my prayers.

I kissed
the bottoms of his feet,
the palms of his hands.
And I pressed my grief against his lips.

Then I covered his body
with crisp white cotton
and tucked it under
his bushy red beard
to hide the hole
they put in his neck,
too late to save his life.

© 2003 Catnapping