Two Poems and a Poem: Ritual One, Day 23

 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.