William F Dougherty - The Crab Sonnets I

William F Dougherty - The Crab Sonnets I

Candle Power in Intensive Care br br The unction cools my brow; the candle shines br and forms a line of sacramental brede. br The priest half-chants the text, and makes the signs, br jogging my mind with the redemptive creed br I learned to lisp in church. A night-shift nurse br shows up with rosary beads and borrowed shawl. br I squeeze my morphine pump: the pain is worse. br A gurney clatters down the empty hall. br br I wonder what my blur of being meant br To warrant such precautionary flush; br I wonder why the candle's Sunday scent br expands and cloys the sterile room. A hush br folds up all sound; the candle snuffs its flame, br a wisp absconds with my stowaway name.


User: PoemHunter.com

Views: 1

Uploaded: 2014-11-10

Duration: 01:01

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