How, Why

She sat in the front row looking frail,
frightened, emotions flowing, his casket
just above her, I have never felt the sadness
that I have felt today.
I felt her feelings so strongly, totally taken by
surprise at my feelings.
I have been to many funerals and felt sadness
but NEVER like this.
They were married 67 years, a full happy life.
At 90 some would say he was old, not surprising
that he would die, but to her this was her life above
her, gone, a shell but left.
With family and friends around her I could feel her loneliness,
It seemed as though I were connected to her soul.
At times hard to breathe I listened to the words being said
by the Minister, yet couldn't keep my eyes off of her, I could
not disconnect. As a poem was read, it said what she would have.
As she went up to say goodbye I had to leave, I could not stay
a moment longer. Her words to him were more than I could bear,
I must get away, I must breathe. The words to the poem kept running
through my mind, not understanding why this connection was
still there, i knew i had to some way distance myself, break this
connection. As i left with others to go to the grave site, I took in the
fresh air like i had not taken a breath in such a long time. That poem
still fresh, still haunting. Outside as the connection was finally distanced
still reeling from this sureal experince I wonderd, Why, how.