Like That of a Dying Rose

That of a Dying Rose

Her life was that of a dying rose.

With each petal that fell, her heart rate dropped

Grieving relatives watch as her breathing slows

Was there any way for this to be stopped?

Her tired eyes admitted solemn defeat

Death sits quietly at her side

With scythe poised to bring eternal sleep

Soon she will leave this world behind

It had all started with a simple cough

But then progressed to something much worse

No one suspected anything right off

They saw no need to send for a nurse

But when she began to cough up blood,

Her parents then knew that something was deadly wrong

Lung cancer, as it had turned out, had begun to bud.

Throughout her treatment she did her best to stay strong.

Now here she lies in her final hour

So utterly alone in her hopeless state.

The last petal falls, spiraling downward,

and so ends the tragic life of Clarice Bates.