ever sit alongside someone you love
whose face is gaunt and body
is emaciated because her organs
are eating her own flesh
until there is nothing left to
draw upon and her
heart will stop
her lungs will cease
and she smiles at you
and says
my kids are going to miss me
do you still wear a size two?
are you seeing anyone?
you seem happy, i am glad
and you hold her hand
and take a picture
because any minute
she could be gone
and you keep crying
but you have work to do
and old people die everyday
but she is something special
to you
we are soul sisters
i tell her
and she agrees