How dark is the night
when your baby boy
has left you?
Lying-he lies
stretched full out
with her by his side
alone on a nubby white bed.
Lying-he lies
stretched full out
with her by his side
alone on a nubby white bed.
Their candle-
it seems
all but snuffed
full out
I cannot comprehend
it seems
all but snuffed
full out
I cannot comprehend
no warmth in his small fingers
they curl up with the mourners
spread apart in the room adjacent
filled with grief stricken silence
broken up by her sobs
broken up by her sobs
I am 20…
(I am 20)
(I am 20)
How dark is the night?
How dark is the night?
A mother sits looking
her head turned aside
leaving her baby to slip
her head turned aside
leaving her baby to slip
slowly he slides...
downward but looking up
grimy is the Appalachian
black water tendrils
grimy is the Appalachian
black water tendrils
as inward they glide along the curve of his skull
Confused is
the look
as farther he sinks
Confused is
the look
as farther he sinks
Black water, you lie!
You are a liar
There is no truth in you
You are a liar
There is no truth in you
How dark is the night?
How dark is the night?
Must I walk these halls alone
with my vision obscured
banging my shins broken now bleeding
Once vital the helper-now helped
I scratch my head asking
over I turn this
one thing
I ask
“How dark is the night?”
© Karen Powell
over I turn this
one thing
I ask
“How dark is the night?”
© Karen Powell
Golly - that almost reads like a novel, lg. Poignant and sad.
ReplyDeleteLynn~thank you. It is based on (some) first hand personal experience, some second hand observation of others going through things, and my years of work in the hospital. Thank you for stopping by. I miss you!!! Karen
ReplyDeleteThat was so well done and so tragic and so haunting, lg! And the photo is glorious!
ReplyDeleteHey Talon! Thanks so much!!! (W-w-when is tennis???!)
ReplyDeleteThat means a lot coming from you, Talon. :-) Not trying to be 'over-dramatic...' Do you think it's 'just right?'
ReplyDeleteSo powerful and so moving. It really grabbed my heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you NC mountainwoman :-) Thank you for stopping by, as well. :-)
ReplyDelete