Ventilator

A Poem by Wharton

Poem about my late brother's death

A twelvemonth's passing
and still I search,
trying to find answers
for the obvious.

For the loss, the cessation
that we all must realize...
and to an answer to...
the ineffable end.

And I am reminded of
a week earlier,
and those ineffectual words,
"We'll see you when it's over."

And it was true--
we saw him later...
In the ICU
hooked to a machine.

And since today is a year...
I should celebrate his spirit,
Instead I sit here remembering
the sound of artificial life.