Week 4: Hallelujah!

Week 4: Hallelujah!

I will mostly be posting these poems in the chronological order in which they were written, but weeks 4 and 5 will be at least one exception to that plan (there will probably be others later.)  This week will be the 4th anniversary of my dear dad, Otto's passing.  On January 23, 2022, he died after a long battle with multiple myeloma (blood cancer). The poems posted this week and next were written in tribute to him. 

As with all my poems, they are based on true events.  I had indeed had a dream about my dad leaving in the middle of a conversation, and I was racing after him, begging him to stay longer.  Four years later, and I still have similar dreams from time to time.  But the truth is, I would not have him back for anything.  My daddy is in perfect peace and health in Heaven, and much, much happier there!  

It is also true that my dad's widow told me that my dad's last word right before he passed to Heaven was, "Hallelujah!"  The last week or so of his life his cancer had spread to his brain, he had gone blind, and he was not speaking.  However, his wife still played worship music for him and right in the middle of one of the songs (I don't know which one), he suddenly called out, "Hallelujah!" and was gone to glory shortly after.

As the late singer Howard Goodman once said (this is paraphrasing), it is very difficult to say good-bye to those we love, however, don't think of them as being in our past, but in our future because we will see them again.  Hallelujah indeed!   

Hallelujah! (2022)

I had another dream

Where we were having a casual chat,

So much like we used to do,

When you suddenly announced you must go,

You could not stay any longer;

As you swiftly began your exit,

I raced after you trying to keep up,

Pleading, “Don’t go yet, Dad,

There’s so much more I want to say!”

But you did not reply,

And you were gone.

I awoke enveloped in a heavy cloak of sadness,

Missing you with such an ache;

Hopes and fears in my heart I wanted to share,

Yet these conversations we will never have;

In spite of my grief,

I could not cry,

Instead, I began to pray.

So many words came back to me then,

Our last conversation 

When you could scarcely speak,

And I said, “It’s okay, Daddy,

Just know I love you very much.”

I remembered how often you told me you loved me,

And how much you loved my husband,

And you prayed for us daily.

I remembered that your wife shared with me

Your very last word,

When you were surrounded by those you loved,

She played praise music for you;

Although you were now blind and mute,

Before you left, you clearly said,

“Hallelujah!"

Just one word,

One word that soothes my soul;

One word to let me know

You were ready to go;

One word to give me peace;

You are in perfection now,

Walking down streets of gold,

Embraced in pure love from God;

One word to bring comfort,

Reminding me I will see you again.

Though I still have much more to say,

I must let you rush ahead,

To a place where you are safe and free,

In the holy presence of Jesus,

Where your pain is gone,

And you can rest and find joy;

Hallelujah, indeed!

(Revelation 21:4-5 & 21) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.