Who he once was deteriorated away,
tubes and IV's interlocked with his frail frame.
With impractical faith we persisted,
and hoped he would respond to his name.
Infuriated with my uncertain Lord,
I begged and bargained,
my knees shaking on the tile floor.
A naive and scared child,
great hope had generated delusion.
until Doctor White Coat's unhappy news,
a stern and brutal intrusion.
Then a shadow was cast over her face
it was a sadness in her eyes.
I harbored her pain atop my own
as it radiated, she cried.
Death stole my mother's love-
I couldn't help but feel that loss
that difficulty keeping pace, taking breaths.
It was a lie to hold this cross.
Generic cards and casserole plates,
many faces of pity and "I'm sorry's"
that just couldn't relate.
I envied their laughter, their happy small talk,
passing strangers with contentment in their walk.
Sure they do not know or maybe they could not understand,
how much pain we felt.
For this loss- of a father, a husband-
abruptly pushed us under Fate's upper hand.