Ocean Springs ICU
I remember holding my fathers hand
As he lay dying
I thought he was dying
He was dying, for sure he was dying
A dead man, I held his hand
And said, the most honest words of my life
And prayed without ceasing
Not even when my grip was too tight
There was no too tight, I had to hold on tight
Or daddy would slip away
Into the night, the world of shadow and shade
I held on tight. Too tight.
His IV came undone. Like me.
His blood spilled on the sheets. Like me.
Little specks of bright bright blood orange
The same blood in me.
Little poppy seeds, as red as the crimson sea
The nurses watched and turned their heads
My aunt and uncle couldn’t look me in the eye
I was stoned, I was high, I was numb
But through it all
I held on tight, despite all that
And prayed without ceasing
And now
He’s alive.
About the Creator
Mark Burr
Mark Burr is a poet from Ocean Springs MS. He was last published in Prairie Schooner. He is currently working on a chapbook. He also writes short stories and takes cool pictures with his camera.
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