Elderly man asleep in the hospital bed

Moving so slightly

His respirations become

the only sign 

He is not dead

 

I move his feet back in the bed

as they slide out every now and then

How lonely to be here

and your life now coming to an end

the days behind you 

will never come again

 

You do not wake even for a needle stick

it seems as though your life is fading

and you will die here alone

The restrictions put in place

leave the neediest ones alone

and you say to save lives

we must stay apart

 

without connection our hearts

will break and that is enough

to ensure our soul departs