I wrote a draft of this poem in November when my stepdad was in the hospital before he passed on December 20th. He was in the hospital for 3 months, and it was such an unsettling and hard time for my family. Most of all my heart hurt for my Mom. This is probably one of those things I would never have shared but my writing group reacted to it strongly, and like they often do they made me look at something I’d written differently. I’m still not sure about it - and have given it only one rewrite, but it feels like it should live somewhere. So here it lives now.
Do not lose faith in the flowers don’t lose faith that he will breathe again on his own that he will come out of the hospital, out of this coma, that machines will not be needed to keep him alive. Don’t lose faith that he will be home again next to your mother in their bed, that he will laugh his full belly deep laugh, that he will smile his wide toothy smile that makes you smile and everyone else in the room smile because he is just so goddamn warm and loving and how can this gentle giant be so still for so long. Do not lose faith in the flowers in the soil that feeds them that cradles their roots that gives them a place to sleep. Do not lose faith in the strong limbs the bright green leaves, their heads opening up to the sun breathing in the rain. Do not lose faith it’s the only vine keeping her standing right now and we all need to hold it tight so she does not drop so this does not fall because none of us want to see what happens when we let go.
I loved this so much, and the reason why is because the voice in the poem is so distinct and authentic -- almost jarring so. I think this is what makes a really good poem -- a voice that clearly has something to say, comes through the page, and moves us. I hope you’ll keep sharing these 💓