stanford level 2

 

by methylium

Newspapers & bibles
Strangers lean close
-Or not-
And study dress shoes
At the ends of their legs
Wishing
They wore sneakers instead
What do you wear the day she might die?
Regret masked or manifest
In a waiting room
Concerned over the choice of their dress.
No one's to blame, so no one has answers
So no one asks.
Each one only
Half of a whole;
And the hand that bears the proof in gold
Clasps a purse
Steadies a head
Hangs on
To the arm of a chair.
Each one is taken, half of a pair.
Alone, together
In the waiting room.

Not the praying room
Or the hoping room
But waiting.

(how should I feel?)
                       Wait.
(should I cry?)
                       Wait.
(should I prepare?)
                       Just... wait.

Newspapers & bibles
Wedding rings & sneakers
Blue & white &
beige.

                      "Darnell Kassel?"
Wait. Wait. Let me just wait.
I don't know, anymore.
                      "Darnell?"
Hand, ring first, reaches up, I'm here
I'm still here.
                      "Surgery went fine, you can take her home soon."

Repeat after me:
For better, or worse (For better, or worse)
Til death do us part (Til death do us part)
I'll wait for you (In a hospital chair)
I'll read (and reread)
The same article (and remember nothing)
But you. (I do.)
 

~ by Anna on March 2, 2009.