thought he was weird
poor old guy
constantly throwing off
his sheets and blanket
pulling the cases off his pillow
would see him wiggling his feet
and moving his arms
as if reaching for something
as he laid in bed

because of my deafness
we never spoke
but I would see him talking
to the caregiver and nurses
he didn’t eat or drink much
a little eerie at first
an old bald man with pale skin
and not much life in him

one video call
the caregiver smiled
when she brought the phone
to his bed
it must have been a loved one
but no one came for a visit

a table between our beds
prevented a full body view
but this morning
his feet weren’t wiggling
his arms weren’t reaching out
thought he might still be asleep

at curiosity’s urging
I sat up in my bed to take a peek
his face was turned towards me
couldn’t see the whites of his eyes
like in the movies
where the eyes turn all black
his mouth was open
as he lay there motionless
a nurse came to check on him
removed the velcroed cushioning
from his feet and covered them
with his sheet
she didn’t bother to check his heart
her stethoscope remained
draped on her shoulders
then quietly walked out of the room

took another peek
to see if she covered his face
she hadn’t
arms at his side
face straight up
looking at the ceiling
he laid in state
in the royal position
with a viewing party of one
awaiting the coroner

death may seem sad
but I was happy for him
freed from the confines of a life
where seemingly
no one remembered him

Del Maximo
(c)11/27/2024