A Poem By Kofi Thompson

Title: (Hospice Final Journeys)

Though now all deceased
At the time of the interviews
They were very much alive
And awaiting their deaths in a hospice

Their touching reflections
About daily having to face the cold fact
That their impending deaths represented
Were moving and touching shared-stories

And their whiles-alive-images in black-and-white
Full-faced photographs of brave souls
Awaiting their impending deaths
Are veritable before-and-after studies in quiet courage
That will resonate with all living humans who view them

And the equally emotionally powerful images
Photographs taken just after their deaths
Are wondrous depictions of the faces
Of long-suffering souls finally at peace
They will move viewers till the very end of time

And the complete sets
Of those before-and-after photographs
And their accompanying poignant personal stories
Truly touched and affected millions worldwide when published

Those millions who pondered their own eventual ends
When Death will also finally come calling for them too
Were spellbound as they read those poignant published stories
And viewed those spellbinding black-and-white photographs

Readers cannot but thank those brave departed souls
Who posthumously shared reflections of their past and present
And their apprehensions about the unknown future they were then facing

An unknown future full of mysteries
Which today is a moment of reflection for the living
Who wonder and ponder
When they too will embark on their final journey
That journey all dearly departed ones make in the end

May the souls of those now-departed hospice patients rest in perfect peace
They have departed after embarking on the final journey to the other side
From which no living being has ever returned
And which we shall all embark on one day too