585 - This round to Geoff

Hospitals bring life’s frailty home to you.
The doctor talks of lungs and oxygen,
Blocked tubes and pipes. Reasons for this, a few
(Or possible reasons - nothing’s certain).
Geoff’s prospects weren’t good - ventilator on;
Connected to ten tubes supporting life;
Infusions, confusing crossed wires; someone
Always checking the data, while his wife
(My mum) waited, dreading the knock, the dive
Into the ward for hurried farewells, new
And haunting images of death, that when
Back home would fill her nightmares. But alive
He remains, dogged ex-fireman, his crew
Of relatives cheering. Well done again!
Fri 11 Apr 2008