Final Moments
Sitting with you
Watching you, helpless;
Sleep is engulfing you
What more can I do, helpless?
Mum and you did everything for me
When I was helpless;
You always gave the right words
When everyone else gave the wrong.
Here with you, in fear for you
Whatever can I do for you.
You did so much for me
Now I'm helpless.
I really should have brought you cheer
Instead my gift for you is tears;
Al least your closed eyes cannot see
That I am helpless.
It used to be you tucking me up in bed
Now nurses tuck you up instead;
White hospital pillows beneath your head..
Try to sleep peacefully.
I hope that happy memories
Are filling your dreams
Then surely things won't be quite
As bad as they seem.
Still you are cut from me
By those locked eyelids.
Please wake and smile at me!
Let's pretend that things are
Just as they used to be,
Before that stealthy coma captured you
And your shuttered lids kept us parted.
Sylvia Lukeman Knut Hamsun's eulogy by Marie Hamsun, his wife.
The wanderer has reached
The end of his journey.
It wasn't always easy
To keep up with you, my love.
Sometimes you had to wait for me.
And sometimes
I had to wait for you.
At times we even lost track
Of each other on the way.
But somehow,
We always found each other again.
Good bye, my Knut.
And thank you
For keeping me company.
Marie Hamsun 1952
