Jeff
open or close
keep seeing you …
in that
mechanical bed
should have
chosen
a different seat
why didn’t I
do that
wasn’t thinking
straight
just sat down
in the one
direct across
and it was too late
to get up
and move
suddenly the surgeon’s
in the room
telling you
the result
tumor in your head
how long
you’ve got to live
and you’re looking at me
and I’m looking at you
your brown eyes
accepting
somewhere after
the surgeon
I get up
and close the door
to the bathroom
and come back out
and go to
sit back down
but you call me over
to sit beside you
on that mechanical bed
why’d you do that
tried to be steel
but couldn’t
why are you lying there
comforting me
why aren’t you crying
or screaming
or throwing something
anything
why are you just lying there
holding my hand
I want my hand back
TL