“AT THE END” – A poem by Ed Meek

He was so old his bones seemed to swim in his skin.
And when I took his hand to feel his pulse
I felt myself drawn in. It was as faint
as the steps of a child
padding across the floor in slippers,
and yet he was smiling.
I could almost hear a river
running beneath his breath.
The water clear and cold and deep.
He was ready and willing to wade on in.

By Ed Meek

I like the poem for its graphic images .“He was so old his bones seemed to swim “-a highly graphic image.One could imagine the bones sticking out in the shriveled up skin and when the limbs move they seem to be swimming.The next one is again very touching -”I felt myself drawn in” .The poem continues to use the aquatic imagery -an extension of the swimming .“it was as faint as the steps of a child /Paddling across the floor in slippers”-the child is paddling . I could almost hear a river running beneath his breath .The water clear and cold and deep. Finally ,he was ready and willing to wade on in.