Pastor Wil’s wife, Mary,
wandered off on a Wednesday
through that veil between
here and there.

She was 90 and ready.
He is 92 and not,
While I sat with him
at her wake that day,
he sighed, smiled,
wiped his tears away
and said,
“She’ll be waiting on the bench,
just outside the gates.”

They’d made a vow.

After a marriage of 67 years
and sweet hearts for 2 before,
(the war, you see),
they would hold off on heaven
till both could enter there,
smiling,
arm in arm.