TO GOD

you diagnosed the patient
months ago pronounced
the sentence playing god
terminal you said there is no
hope but i would not believe
would not give up i've felt

a pulse there's life here i just
know it i'll try any remedy
visit shamans pray bargain
with god it's nothing we can't
heal something will work some
medicine candles incense

innocence a potion a miracle
i raged i stood upon the mountain
screamed pleaded blessed it
held the life within me watched
it slip away grow weaker day
by day tonight i opened

the window for goodbye you took it took me
this last time your skin
a mantra i memorized your fingers
the scent of you the sounds and silences
how your body feels inside me left
my tears upon the cold cold
face of death and drove away

© Joan Barton, 1999

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