Our Ward

Take me somewhere else.
Away from this world
That cannot contain us.

Take me away from schedules,
Plans and a future.
No one will know our past.

A place to be
Where our hearts may speak,
In the place of poems
And others’ pretty words.

Take me far from this.
This solitude, these sores,
And these sandblasted walls.

Take me with you.
Somehow get me out
The way you are going.

These goons in the room
Who gave me 8 to 9
Now say that I’ll be just fine.
A mixed miracle in my mind.

You’re a ghost in the making
Lying before my eyes.
Speech abandoning you,
Hope not far behind.

Take me off this plane.
Free of conscious pain
And the sight of yours.

Take me on your journey.
Don’t leave me with this,
A life of your lost fight.

Your speechless lips move.
I force my eyes to read them.
“I’m being taken away.”
You leave in two minutes time.

The sun shines into the ward
On a day you will never see.
My shirt seems to button itself
As I’m severed from reality.
Into fresh air and open arms,
I’m leaving out a different door.
Survivor’s guilt has struck me.
As much punishment as reward.
It will take its toll slowly,
Eroding me from within.
Your final words were silent,
But your impact left a din.