The Visit
The sterile room
the cold hard bed
the tubes crisscrossed
across the withered body
we visit out of respect
to those who linger
we would prefer not to
we'd rather be someplace else
we try to say something
yet it feels awkward
what is left
how do you say goodbye
how do you tell them
face to face
we walk away
feeling hollow inside
on the way down the elevator
we stare at the floor
unable to say
what worries us
able to see ourselves
in them
our day is coming
can we just close our eyes
die in our sleep.
jennifer Malden
Sat 25th Aug 2018 18:36
this has happened to us all, at least the older among us.
As you say we visit out of respect for those who remain, but sometimes one would prefer to remember the person as they once were, not as they are now. Agree with Taylor that it is the 'how' that is frightening. A violent death, or lingerin on too long, which happens too often nowadays. Very sensitive.
Jennifer