Frozen Wishes
This poem is about the day that we brought my grandfather home to die. He died about 3 months after we brought him home. He died 10 years after my mom’s mother died, 10 years later on the exact day. September is such a bad month for my family.
Delayed Reaction
Standing in the elevator my ears close
They curl up and refuse to hear anymore
My eyes begin to dim like a bad bulb
Because they don’t want to see
I grab the bar to keep myself standing
I have to walk out of this hospital
We have to go home and get ready
He has one weekend left
The man who faced down Nazis
Who kept the Germans from
Breaking through the Bulge
Cannot keep his body from malfunctioning
He has fought off heart attacks
So now his brain is having strokes
The small attacks are beating him down
They have paralyzed his legs and one arm
He drove a tank over The Alps
and across the Rhine to free people
Now he drives a wheelchair across the kitchen
My aunt is trying to talk to me
But I’m not really hearing the words
The moment did not knock me down
Or throw me over oblivion’s edge
Instead it is slowly dragging me to the floor
Is my blood sugar low
No my realization is high
Death is standing in the shadows
Of my grandfather’s hospital room
We make Boston Cream Pie as we wait
For the ambulance to bring him home
Because diabetes has finally won
And he can have sugared strawberries
Failing at Haiku 
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your on a certain stage of grief. good write.
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Forgive me for enthusing about such a somber piece, but i do love how this poem flows.
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I appreciate your comment!
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Very, very powerful.
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I like how you contrasted his previous strength in battle with slowly losing the fight for his life. The sugared strawberries are a kind gesture at the end…my sympathy to you, Symanntha.
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Thank you so much Lynn.
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You have my condolences for the loss of your grandfather and others who have left you reeling during September. I’m glad that he got to have some sugared strawberries…that was a nice touch there at the end of your poem. Thanks for joining with us at dVerse today…please feel welcome to return.
Gayle ~
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Thank you so much. Eveyone has been so kind, I think I will come back next week. 🙂
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Happy to hear that!
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Such a tender exposition. And I understand fully. Your September is my December. Mom passed on Christmas Eve, Dad – four days short of the twentieth anniversary of her death. Add my father-in-law and a favored uncle before the New Year Chimed in, and I know your pain. Thanks for revealing this, Sam!
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I’m sorry to hear that Walter, but thank you for sharing. It’s nice to know that others understand.
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Sam – this is a beautifully expressed poem – the feelings you evoke in the elevator and then the final sweetness of the strawberries are so very moving.
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Thank you so much.
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Oh I wondered when you would find your way over to our little bar.. a wonderful and sad poem, especially love how you contrast the present with the past… when you’ve reached the state of waiting it’s so extra demanding
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Very touching. As a former hospice nurse, I’ve seen this played out so often. Your details make this very real.
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Poignant words..very nicely written.
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Very sad but beautifully written.
All the best. Thanks for sharing such a sad poem.
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Thanks for reading!
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I am very sorry to read this; condolences to the family ~ This is beautifully written, one from your heart ~ THanks for sharing and nice to meet you ~
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Thank you so much.
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Thank you for reading.
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Grief is in the details. His life is stored in your heart and his soul in heaven.
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So true, thank you for commenting.
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Good heavens. I’m so excited to read you; this is phenomenal poetry.
These are my favorites:
“I have to walk out of this hospital”
“He has fought off heart attacks
So now his brain is having strokes”
“The moment did not knock me down”
“Is my blood sugar low
No my realization is high” … This is my very favorite.
“Because diabetes has finally won
And he can have sugared strawberries”
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Thank you so much.
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Yes, a very powerful write. I have my mom home with me now…failing heart and kidnies, Alzheimers…it is hard, isn’t it? But we move through it as bestvas we can. Welcome to dVerse Poets Pub!
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Thank you! I’m glad I tried dVerse, I think I’ll come back, you are all so nice.
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Thank you. We try. Go to the homepage and check out tge staff so you can get better acquainted with us.
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A powerful write, and echoes some of my own thoughts (in theme if not in detail), as a lady that I know passed away quite suddenly and unexpectedly just a few days ago…and so my open link night poem is also on the theme of death
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It’s nice to know when a personal piece is appreciated. Thanks for leaving me a comment. I hope you find healing through your writing.
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So sad,but life goes on.
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