Hospitals and Heaven

Bone white walls, gunmetal gurneys

like serving trays on spinning wheels,

blood and sweat -- don’t forget the tears --

and the light, that awful imitation of the sun,

that turns even the rosiest face sallow.

 

There are signs on the swinging doors,

“No Admittance” and “Do Not Enter”,

but no one follows directions here,

because everyone is hiding from Catastrophe,

            (or trying to keep her at bay)

as though stilted smiles and shuffling feet

will send her to the next windowless room.

 

You are a skeleton with skin, a wounded bird

whose wings have no flight feathers, only

bent bones -- graceful and awkward --

 

Is it wrong that I find you beautiful now,

while heaven’s handmaidens wait in the corners?

 

When you speak to them, I understand why,

            even if no one else does, 

because I know the tenor of their wilted voices --

I have heard the white noise of death before.

 

Your eyes are half moons -- eclipsing --

the void is somewhere before you now,

and you reach for it as a bare-footed child

catching lightening bugs on a summer night.

Reviews

[End.]

I find this full of truth. Truth sets us free. I can clearly see my grandmother in this piece. You may be the best poet in this joint. Always a pleasure to read your work.

-PRP

[Derek Nall]

It's sad sometimes you can only see the beauty when it's being taken away from you :/

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you for reading this one, Derek :)

[Star]

I can relate to this as I work in a hospital. I got from this the wailing out of sick people or a person, and waiting for their time to come and nurses perhaps in the background watching on..

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm glad you could relate...it is a touch place to be...

[TL Boehm]

You are a skeleton with skin, a wounded bird
whose wings have no flight feathers, only
bent bones -- graceful and awkward --

Is it wrong that I find you beautiful now,
while heaven’s handmaidens wait in the corners?

That part put such a lump in my throat. I've been in that place....

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

:( Thank you, TL...for understanding.

[Clara]

I loved the imagery in this one:

You are a skeleton with skin, a wounded bird
whose wings have no flight feathers, only
bent bones -- graceful and awkward --

Perhaps, there is beauty even in Catastrophe...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Perhaps...we can only hope :)

[Tom]

This poem conjures up thoughts of that bright beacon of light folk purport observing when on the operating table just as the defibrillator is in full swing and life hangs by a thread!

I wonder ?

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Tom...I wonder as well...

[B-poet]

An amazing write. This one definitely deserves to be apart of your second poetry collection book. Loved the imagery & conveyed depth within this fine write. Great work Girl Friday. A compelling read. :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you, my friend...it's a work in progress...well, maybe not this poem, but the actual events described. I'm sure there will be more in this line down the road.

[J. J. Nightingale]

She looked helpless and pale
I held her hand
I kissed her cheek
No windows to tell the time of day
We shared a lifetime there..

Well done .. touches places of the heart... Jazz

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much...I truly appreciate your words.

[J. J. Nightingale]

I wrote this comment , because I just lost my Mother in May .. ..

[Astro]

'Wheeled serving plates' in the dreariest dining room of all. I don't know what is worse 'Deaths white noise' or the white noise the living create around the dying. This one has some stirring imagery and thought provoking lines "the void is somewhere before you now" but I see their message like 'lightning bugs' flying in the night. Well done.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you, dear :)

[Astro]

Thank you, my dear.

[waif]

You are a kind of everyman's poet, sharing your experience through poetry in a way many of us can connect with. That's admirable. I can see a few life moments of my own in this scene, but also you make it almost a comfort, a beauty with the delicacy of imagery- I might even say romantic, but I have my own way of defining that word, so maybe that won't transfer.

There is something essential here. Glad to read this today.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I understand you completely...there is romance here. Each and every part of life can be looked upon with romance in one way or another. Thank you so much, Sylvie!