The Hospital Window of Room 504

The Hospital Window of Room 504

 

Have you ever seen the view of the city

In the darkness of the night

From a hospital window?

I have,

And it’s really rather beautiful.

All the twinkly lights blink up at you

While you sit in the uncomfortable chairs

Next to the bedside of someone you love.

Wires crawl around them,

Spinning and twirling in a jungle of technology.

Why do they need so many wires?

The constant beeping is a reminder of where I am

While the other faint noises

Of agonized visitors and stressed workers

Slur into the background.

I could never work in this place.

Every.

Single.

Day.

I could never bear to see the pain

And see the tears

And see the fading, withering bodies,

Slowly dying.

These walls are too narrow and I feel closed.

I look out the window once more

And breathe deeply,

Watching the bright lights

Slowly turn off, one by one.

I choke back the tears,

Swallowing my sadness

In a single clot of death,

Wishing it had never come to this,

Wishing I could be one of those people

Who bring light out of this darkness,

Wishing a way out of this pain.