Ocean Springs ICU

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.