Now hold your breath, and wait

The last of my fathers' generation
In my family will meet her fate
In a narrow hospital bed
While we hold our breath, and wait.

She was rushed to into Pallitive care
In a hemorrhagic, pathetic state
A room reserved for the actively dying
To force each breath and wait.

The family gathers round my dear aunt
Praying the pain will abate
Their tears watering the dry, slow time
In ragged sobs, they wait.

I'm tired and spent with grief..and then
Although the hour is late
I hear the strains of Brahms lullabye
I hold my heart, and wait.

A new life has just been recieved
A miracle love can create
And tears of joy follow so many hours
Where you hold your breath, and wait.

I thought of how like these two places are
Each stands at a fleshly gate
One spirit arrives and one departs
While love holds its breath, and waits.

Only active dying and active labor
May remain for the appointed date
With Death or Life: The passive must go
To count pains or breaths, and wait.

And those whose work is life and death
Speak in low tones to relate
How discomfort can be eased, if we
Remember our breathing while we wait.

Then the moment comes, the pushing begins
And the labor of living is so great
The old and tired give up the breath
Held for so long, and wait.

Labor of a new life, one floor below
Begins to respirate
And cries of joy echo newborn tears
The end of a breathless wait.

Now I stand, as the older generation
Knowing life has death as its' mate
I've come to love one and hate the other
As I number my own breaths,and wait.

But I know Life and Love and Time
Have power to destroy or elate
So help me jump into the next minute
Not to sit idle and wait.

And Life whispers in my heart,
"Don't grieve; celebrate!
You will see all those lost again!
Now hold your breath, and Wait!"