Time of Death

The silence hangs expectantly between

The heavy hands that march relentlessly

Around the calm and stoic face of time

To end their journey where it first began.

I tentatively touch your icy hand

My knuckles dig across your sternum and

I violently shake you and shout yoru name

And beg your ears so deaf in life to hear.

Would I be more surprised if you replied

Becasue your stony ears had heard my call

Or more because your cold blue lips betray

The halting of the gentle hum of life?

No longer do I hear the crinkle pop

Of your tired and tissue paper lungs,

The sibilant swish sound of sclerotic

Carotids which have ceased their fickle flow.

I’ll miss the whistling soft heartsong that sang

To me alone in the pre-dawn of the

Countless times it had been broken and

The love that tuned your heartstrings to their song.

Now wide and darkling pools replace your eyes

Which once saw sunset on the battlefield

The smile of your bride, a Christmas morn

Your children cross the graduation stage.

I pull the linen sheet across your face;

A white that speaks of death, surrender, peace.

My pager screams and as I leave I pass

The nurse and say “Time of death 3:14.”