The Secret

This poem is a view of my own death in the future. It is not meant to be morbid or dark. As a matter of fact, I think of it as being rather positive. These events take place many years from now. It is not in the near future. I hope "The Secret" challenges each reader to carefully evaluate what he/she will leave behind once they depart this world. Finally, "The Secret" is written in the voice of my daughter Ary Anna.

My daddy died just the other day

Family came from miles away

To see him bow upon his stage

To turn his final page

Before he passed we all gathered ‘round

Each one stood up, no one set down

All were eager, yearning to hear

Some words of wisdom he’d learned through the years

We children pressed in to breathe of his breath

Before he closed his eyes in death

Hoping some part of him would remain

And as we breathed in we felt his pain

He opened his eyes and looked at our faces

Smiling to see us all in our places

Oldest to youngest, girls and guys

Softly I wiped the tears from his eyes

Over on the opposite side of the bed

My sweet, tender mother stroked his cool head

We were all there—every last one

Loving wife, beautiful daughters, handsome sons

Through the years my dear, sweet mother stood by his side

When there was no hope—no light in his eyes

She was his life. She was his breath

Now in sweet peace he could face death

My oldest brother—he is so bright

God gave him the gift to write

Years ago into the night sky daddy did stare

Seth is the answer to my daddy’s prayer

My next two brothers—not quite as old

Grew to be wise—grew to be bold

To practice medicine they both did strive

Now they have saved countless a life

My fourth brother went off to war

To help his uncle settle a score

“To the enemy,” daddy said, “you must not yield”

My daddy's son came home carrying his shield

My younger sister is Abby Jo

Bravely she treads where others won’t go

Just like my daddy—she’s almost fearless

But unlike my daddy—she’s almost tearless

My youngest brother—William Wallace by name

Didn’t seek fortune, didn’t seek fame

He dared to step beyond the church steeple

He gave his life to save a nation of people

Like my mother I’ve stayed by daddy’s side

When he laughed I laughed, when he cried I cried

I gave him wisdom, he gave me life

And now I’ve become a godly mother and wife

We all stood there as we recounted

The stories of our lives and the love that abounded

Then daddy quietly whispered, “Do you all see?”

“The secret to life… leave a legacy.”

With those words he breathed his last breath

His heart stopped beating inside his chest

But in each of us he still breathes

For we are his legacy

My daddy was first—he was a pilgrim

He and mom raised up godly children

So we’ll pass his breath to future generations

And daddy will touch so many nations

Daddy was right—it is up to us, you see

We each must leave our own legacy

Allen Bennett