GRIEF Poem: Dearest I Saved The Last Dance For You, by Erich von Neff

“Her time has passed”, Doctor Heim said
“She’s still lovely.
My wife of 51 years.”
“Yes Ralph, Vickie was quite a stunner.”
Then a brief pause
“Well, I’ll be getting back to the hospital.
The coroner will be here soon.”
Then a brief pause
Ralph put on a record
The Begin the Beguine*
He lifted her lifeless body out of the bed
“Come dearest
Let me hold you in my arms again,”
He began dancing with her lifeless body
“Do you remember that night on the beach?
We walked naked
Suddenly you faced me
and said, “Now.”
Sex in the moonlight
Sex in the sand.”
Then a brief pause
Ralph resumed dancing with her lifeless body
“Yes dearest, good times.”
He danced and remembered
and whispered in her ear
Then gently lay her on the bed
The Begin the Beguine still played
He kissed her lips
“Goodnight dearest
I saved the last dance for you.”
Then a brief pause

—
* “Begin the Beguine” is a song written by Cole Porter (1891-1964) at the piano in the bar of the Ritz in Paris,
October 1935.

Author: poetryfest

Submit your Poetry to the Festival. Three Options: 1) To post. 2) To have performed by an actor 3) To be made into a film. View all posts by poetryfest