Passage

We fill the dark hours with mindless chat

not wanting to remember all things past

where we come from, 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 its over, we know its 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 its 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 its 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 our post we do our duty

we shed our skins of childhood

our father is dead