Jim slept at the kitchen table
his face plastered down against a pillow
cushioning the crooked edge of his nose.
That’s nice, I thought, remembering
the other gentleman who did not receive
such practical kindness.
The chart note says something
regarding words of comfort,
but Medicare doesn’t know I haven’t
called his wife back yet. She’s with a friend
dying of cancer on a cruise, and I will
eventually. Before I returned to my car
and waved goodbye to the cat
perched in the laced window watching,
I placed my right hand on Jim’s back,
closed my eyes, and slowed my breath
to the quiet lull of his mid-morning dreams.
his face plastered down against a pillow
cushioning the crooked edge of his nose.
That’s nice, I thought, remembering
the other gentleman who did not receive
such practical kindness.
The chart note says something
regarding words of comfort,
but Medicare doesn’t know I haven’t
called his wife back yet. She’s with a friend
dying of cancer on a cruise, and I will
eventually. Before I returned to my car
and waved goodbye to the cat
perched in the laced window watching,
I placed my right hand on Jim’s back,
closed my eyes, and slowed my breath
to the quiet lull of his mid-morning dreams.
<3
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