Inside the Gates of Heaven

 Riding Horses in the Snow

Tomorrow is not promised, and yesterday is just a memory,
The collection of those memories is a life’s summary,
When faced with a terminal illness, what then did he do?
He remembered fondly a good memory; like it was all brand new,
Since he lived his life to the fullest, he had nothing to regret,
He was thankful and grateful, and considered himself exceedingly blessed,
He was aware of his prognosis, and yet remained an inspiration,
Though much too ill to complete any new aspirations,
We asked him if he could do anything at all what would it be?
He did not hesitate at all and looked right at me,
“I would ride horses in the snow”, was his reply, you see,
Of all the fond memories in his mind, this one he singled out,
It was the simple things; He always knew what life was all about,
In his teens, he had ridden his Appaloosa on the farm across the white landscape,
And the memory of that time in the snow could never be erased,
Photographs of that time are tucked away in a faded photo album,
I feel he gifted me this special memory to hold onto when he passed,
I picture him atop the saddle of a bright, beautiful steed,
With a big smile on his face, as the hooves beat down on the billowing clouds,
Riding down the streets of gold to the field of snow,
Inside the gates of heaven.

Tammy Harvey
Written: 10/13/2020