I was once told a story I’ll never forget,
for it made me examine my life with regret.
‘twas a tale that was shared by a sorrowful friend,
who was mourning a death he could not comprehend.
For his wife had just died after twenty-four years,
as he laid out her clothes, his eyes filled up with tears.
He just wanted her dressed in her very best clothes
so he searched through her wardrobe for dresses and hose.
At the back of a drawer he then stumbled across
a bag tied with bows that left him at a loss.
For inside it he found silken briefs nice and neat
she had wanted to wear them for him as a treat.
That was so long ago it was hard to believe
when they’d gone to Paree for their annual leave.
She’d said soft in his ear: “I will wear them for you,
on a special occasion, you’ll know what to do!”
With a sob in his voice, my friend turned then and said:
“Guess that special occasion is now that she’s dead.”
And we both realised that it’s foolish to wait,
for that one special day that could be just too late.
If we all knew for sure, that today was our last
would we spend it on cleaning, or having a blast?
Would we go off to work, or in church kneel for prayer,
or make time for our loved ones and tell friends we care?
I have learnt that a special occasion is now
so I live for today, and I give you my vow,
I will not leave undone what I said I would do
I’ll live life to the full without fear or taboo.
Then with you by my side we’ll do all of the things
that we’ve dreamed about doing and see what life brings.
There’s no other occasion more special than now
so we’ll not wait around for that one final bow.
© Marty Langenberg 2019