"His Last Words" by Rick Springfield

My father was too weak to parry the blade 
As death's scythe swept through the house one night 
When we were busy doing other things
Dust filled his mouth and stopped his breath
And darkness took his soul in this familiar place

His body, wasted by the sickness
His spirit weary from the battle
He spoke to me, forever his son
Of all things save death: 
I longed to face it with him
But seeing his fear
I feared to speak of it

And though we both saw death's dark irresistible form 
In the far corner
We talked instead of evening shadows 
On bedroom walls

And so it went
There were no proud and profound last words 
No bright ringing final moment of clarity
He just died 
We kissed his still warm face 
And promised forever

The cold wind blew through the trees in my father's yard
And I looked for meaning