Last Orders

Memories are everything.
The faceless nurses come and go.
His time is thread, a slender string,

and we now joined in simply being
with rasp and cough, with breathing slow.
Memories are everything.

La Boheme’s arias sing
pure poetry; bright voices glow.
His time is thread, a slender string

I want to fly away, to wing
to somewhere else, to safe. No.
Memories are everything.

He says my girl you’re giving
all you can. This is another way to grow.
His time is thread, a slender string

The vagaries that living bring
mix love and joy with pain and woe.
Memories are everything.
His time is thread, a slender string.