Distinct distant thunder
Roars an ominous warning
Such is the bed we have made
Sterile ICU
Bed # 23
Comatose gentleman
His lifeless eyes
Electric REM tick
Doleful death mask
Sucking pump
Rhythmic ventilator
His chest heaves on queue
Forced life support
Futile brain dead form
His distraught wife
Gently kisses his clammy forehead
Strokes his matted hair
As if he would disintegrate
Gaping gunshot wound
Slices his heaving belly
Reality
A bloody mess
In human methodology
She wonders through her tears
If he’s there at all
Alas sweet lady
He left hours before
The busy Trauma Surgeon
Stern
Dedicated
Unfortunate lack of eye contact
Averted glance
Screams the tragic news
No need for shallow banter
She finally collapses
Succumbs to exhaustive grief
Into her brothers supportive arms
Standing tall
Despite his breaking heart
Attention now turns to final rites
His lifeless body
Chunked into the clay
Merely a ritual
Sacred goodbye
For those he left behind
Morbidly symbolic
No need for hysteria
Shallow questions
With no earthly answers
Time for thanks and praises
To Him who gave us life
The daily trek goes on
The living stumble forward
Death
A new beginning
To all He calls Disciples
The journey
Evermore
Holy adventure
No mortal chains can tether
Cut flesh leaves scars
Damaged organs
Cause mortality
The sanctified soul lives on
A gift of highest majesty
SELAH!
Proverbs 14:31-33 (New International Version)
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous have a refuge.
33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
and even among fools she lets herself be known. [a]
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / but in the heart of fools she is not known
© Bill Grimes Jr. 2008
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