Passage

We fill the dark hours with mindless chat

not wanting to remember all things past

where we come from, the pain we’ve known

all the time pushing away the claws of pain

mindful of the incisors tearing at our flesh

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

Days and nights bleed into each other

time blurs, our bones ache, our minds filled

with what should have been but never achieved

we shift among others, getting coffee, updates

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

We are together yet totally alone

our thoughts are many, our words few

yet we remember, we recall, we relive

unable to share, or comfort one another

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

Time has run out, death is near

we know it's over, we know it's done

yet we cannot connect or comfort

we do what’s needed, we stand our post

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

We stand while death approaches

we know it's near, it brings silence

bother and sister are locked in a vacuum

we cast no shadows, the light is gone

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

The choices must be made quickly

do we give in to anger, or hate

does bitterness rule the hour

do we drown in this mess

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

For a moment, sound returns

beeps, hisses from cold machines

voices tell us it's time, he’s going

brother and sister need no telling

we wait; knowing our father is dying

 

Our touch, our voice, the last thing

our father will remember

the last he will carry with him

we stood at our post; we did our duty

we shed our skin from childhood

our father is dead

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

HI!
I like the repetition of "my father is dying" it seems to be a slow, agonizing process; for the family waiting day after day,and hour after hour in their own silence, in their own world..."do we drown in this mess"? a very telling line.....that the family does not see eye to eye all the time.... very descriptive and well written..sorrowful
Warmly
B

[MCS]

Betty, thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts. Those were dark, bitter days. I firmly believe that it's very important not to leave unfinished business because it makes the grieving process so much more difficult.

[Betty Hermelee]

Closure is always the best, but sometimes it just doesn't happen!
Always a pleasure to read your work
Warmly, B

[MCS]

Thank you Betty :)