Father T

When most of the souls you grew up with are gone
yet persistently whisper  in the ears of your mind
“It's time now  it's time — high time you moved on”

and all the actuarial stats   suggest
       you've stayed up well past  your time of dying
and you've reached that age
when the mere thought of trying
to blow so many candles out  makes you feel dizzy

       Father T has a habit  of getting rabidly busy
       tediously dropping  the usual prodding hints
       that despite what others may say or think
              the time is finally ripe
              for you to do the right thing and call it a life

while his sister Nostalgia  proves just as relentless
in her efforts to strengthen her enfeebling presence
              as you feel yourself slip
                            slip away  a bit further each day

       while your failing health and fading grip
              on the slippery ever-tenuous present
                     give every impression  it won't be long
       before you join the ones you so dearly miss
                     in the promised bliss of the great beyond.