Poetry

Like a Giant

Lying like a giant

amongst skinned rabbits,

your chest dips with the effort

of each newborn breath

whilst away downstairs,

clutching the precious Polaroid,

I restlessly sleep.

Woken far too early,

I’m taken quietly to you,

almost unrecognisable now

beneath a snakes nest of

tubes, as machines bleep and

yesterday’s sudden elation

turns into weeks of fear.

Who could ever forget

the passing of that child

who had never known home,

the anguished screams

in the corridor, a mother

just missing the final breaths of

the boy who shared your name.

Like a giant you lie sedated

new drugs releasing your lungs,

before you are gently woken

to lie safely cocooned

against your father’s chest

and we know one day soon

we will finally take you home.

(originally published on WikidWords)

(c) Catherine Walter 2007