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THE FINAL SONG

FRANK L.MEYSKENS, JR., MD, is the Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr. Endowed Chair and Professor of Medicine and Biological Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine; and Director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Meyskens is a member of

By Frank S. Meyskens, Jr., MD

Once again we rushed to be with you

a long scary ride in the pouring rain,

arriving at midnight ten hours later

exhilarated and exhausted.

You had been failing badly for several days

now gasping, eyes shut, becoming aware

of our presence when my brother began

to sing You are my sunshine.

Your eyes opened and in a strong voice

you began to sing, song after song,

and for an hour we sang with you,

you correcting us when we didn't get it right.

And then you returned to wherever

you had been and for the next three days

you said your goodbyes, one by one,

as your friends and grandchildren called.

It has been nearly six weeks now since you sang yourself

into the cosmos, never will I forget that divine moment,

my chest then heaving, my heart now aching,

my eyes glistening at the finality of that moment.