Love, Always

speech derailed tipped off balance a world in fragments when loss follows its own narrative secured to his hospital chair the man stroke weary slumps, ungainly as reeds she caresses his hands dependent touching poised intimacy her words: "I will love you always. please say after me, I will love you always." her spoken meditation on love's loyalty words that beg remembrance he nods wide eyed faith caught in sunless seclusion does he know love by looking at now? in the white room there are puzzles that fog the brain that can't unravel clues "Try try just once more" splintered words healable vows "I will love you, all ways." Poem composed April 9, 2023