Two Poems
“Between (Another Door)” by Richard Blanco
“Long Division” by Barbara Kingsolver
A Poem
Alone
by ljkemp
She lay there, her body lifeless
her heart warm and aglow, still.
He felt it, aching like his
but it was still alive,
for now.
He stood back on the other side
of glass, covered in cloth
and latex and the heaviness
of people dying.
His eyes the only way to send messages
please just breathe,
please don’t leave me.
20 feet away
30 feet away
6 feet multiplied by something,
by eternity. Loving the only way he could love
disinfected, sanitized, distanced
longing to kiss her forehead
touch her cheek, hold her hand,
whisper the words I love you to her ear.
Here, not possible.
According to the rules you stand alone
and watch her slip away.
Italicized lines: First italicized line is from the Blanco poem, and the second is from the Kingsolver poem.
