Free at last free at last: no more oxycontin, no more tramadol,

And no more codeine yet with all my co-morbidities, I was told I had one year at most without open heart surgery but I would not survive it. So I'm pain free but waiting to die

With all lights flashing.

I’m leaving soon
With all lights flashing.
I’ve never felt so sure.
So sure I beam
Brighter than ever.
My body slips away, as my spirit soars
Buoyed aloft by hundreds of my students words
My travel buddies, friends.
By memories.

I’m bursting with life!
I’m weeping with joy
So sure of life, of living,
Of loving proudly, deeply.
I shout out, again and again. .
I love. . . I love you . . .
You. . . And you . . And you.

Loving deeply, deeply loved.

Don’t you know yet?
it’s your light that lights the world (Rumi )

On lab reports I’m dead.
but I still thrive.
I still burn bright.
in life’s final stage.
A day , maybe a year,
even more.
But however long it is …
Tis’ a final glorious light show,
Of one man’s life in the cosmos
It is just a flicker in time.
. . . it is an ending.

I’m still telling my stories
I’ve more stories to tell
I’m still loving,
With more love to give,
More joy to share,
More tears to cry

I’m leaving soon
With all lights flashing,
still shouting, — I love you, I love you. . .
and you. . . and you . . and you.