{"id":768,"date":"2021-12-03T17:55:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T08:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alphabendi.com\/?p=768"},"modified":"2021-12-08T11:14:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T02:14:24","slug":"stephens-bloh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.alphabendi.com\/?p=768","title":{"rendered":"Stephen’s blog"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Dear Newsletter Readers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope this edition of our newsletter finds you well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, I didn\u2019t have an opportunity to do any cooking last weekend, so no recipes or pictures of food for you this week.  I think this is a good enough reason to try to get back to writing a bit of poetry.  This week\u2019s poem is about death, something that eventually happens to us all.  This poem is about someone that has come to the end of his life and as he is getting ready to pass away he is experiencing how he feels as he is approaching death and he is somewhat reflecting back on the life he has lived.  He is surrounded by his family in hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until next week, have a good weekend and continue to keep safe. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Close to breathing my last breath  <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I know I am surrounded by warmth, love and respect.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m aware I\u2019m laid in an unfamiliar bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can feel a pillow under my back and behind my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I cannot move freely because of tiredness, wires and tubes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how hard I try, I cannot open my eyes.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel familiar hands of all sizes squeezing mine and I know you are there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would never have gotten this far without all your love and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sound of the waves breaking between my ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then suddenly an eerie silence appears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My silent tears become heavier than my weightless fears.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m left with an emptiness I cannot describe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I squeeze a hand to confirm I\u2019m still alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m struggling to catch my breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve finally been relieved of my fears of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think I\u2019ve had a good life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A loving wife and the children I have helped to bring into this world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three boys and two girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve lived long enough to see them grow and have families of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I now feel very cold but without pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With curtains drawn I see parts of my life in pictures from birth to death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am close to breathing my last breath.  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A poem by Stephen Austwick<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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