Alone
You arrive home from the hospital just after dark exhausted - physically emotionally. His cat greets you insisting on attention - tripping you as you walk to the kitchen to heat up a cup of this morning's unfinished coffee and read the mail. She jumps into your lap as you sort through bills advertisements an early birthday card and you absently stroke her head. Soothed by her purring you close your eyes but his pain-filled face comes immediately into view and your eyes snap open. You aren't sure how much more you can take. The phone rings. and you pause - considering whether or not to answer it and hear more questions and tell the same story again. You are so lonely so afraid so alone and yet you crave silence quiet peace just five minutes where you don't have to talk about IT. You sigh heavily and move the furry motor from your lap she protests, of course and reach for the phone. You choke back a sob take a deep breath and force your voice to sound cheery - "Hello." ***** This poem was written for my mother as she deals with the reality and shock of my father's recent hospitalization and cancer diagnosis. They've been married almost 53 years. |