the last sight (i)

the last sight (i)

what was my mother’s last sight as she slowly faded into death
in the bright lit hospital room as she declined over the months
at her last moment i stood above her and disturbed the nurses
administering various attempts of futility to offset the inevitable
for days and weeks my sister father and i had sat in vain vigil
the radio and television silent while my mother silently prayed
intoning the rosary under her breath and repeating the mantras
accepting sips of ice water or occasional morsels of bland food
for her the time shank the focus faded the tunnel grew nearer
though the days and nights lengthened for us into slow eternity
glancing out the window in daylight or starlight almost unseen
books held and hands held awaiting that final savage moment
wish death away beseech an unknown unhearing invisible god
hoping it would never arrive yet knowing it would always arrive