Survivor

Then there was three of us
huddled together for warmth – maybe more.
The feel of skin on skin,
a momentary relief,
a minute reminder that life still existed
and that somewhere
there was love.

Jeremy didn't last long.
He shut his eyes,
sleeping we thought.
or hoped we thought.
She knew better.
So did I.

Still the morning came,
it didn't matter he was gone
and we were now two.
The sun is remarkably insensitive.

Without it we too would be sleeping.

I'd push back her hair,
clumped on her forehead
from a night of sweating
in freezing temperatures.
Fever had come with the sun,
but stayed through the night.
She was beautiful.

There was food.
Little pieces,
too much to ignore
too little to help.
We huddled on.

Storms.
The worst yet.
She was coughing,
hadn't spoken for days.
Her ribs so clear now,
I'd run my fingers along them.
Then my own.
We're going to die here,
I knew it.

Her eyes spoke to me,
every tear she shed,
every shade of white turned yellow.
She was beautiful.
She smiled,
and I wanted it to end there.

It did for her.
Still the sun rose.
Merciless, cruel,
unforgiving light.
They saw me from above.
I told them
I don't want to go.

I hugged her.
Tried to carry her to them.
I couldn't stand anymore.
They took us both.
Just leave me with her,
I said.

Still the sun rises,
every morning.
My ribs are disappearing again,
and I miss them.
 

Reviews

[MOON]

Poignant , beautifully written

[Christina May Shanaberg]

What a tragedy it must be to have a loved one die in your arms and you are helpless to do a thing to prevent it. Sometimes, surviving seems so such harder than dying. This was a very vividly written poem and it filled me with emotion!