Home » Poems » Line Gauthier » The Man He Used To Be

The Man He Used To Be

looking frail
in his hospital bed
he smiled at us
his eyes so bright
how we missed the man
he used to be

never understanding
why he’d given up
and landed here
so close to death
but today so genuine
his smile had seemed

trusting he’d found
new hope
we walked away
with heavy heart
and left him there
to face another day



AP: Honorable Mention 2020

Posted on December 27, 2018

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Gershon Wolf

Date: 12/30/2018 6:54:00 PM

I echo Timothy M's comment. There's nothing I can add. You've shown and expressed it all here. :) gw

Line Gauthier
Date: 12/30/2018 7:26:00 PM

Thanks for your much appreciated visit and comment, Gershon.

M. L. Kiser

Date: 12/29/2018 8:07:00 AM

It's a horror when we have to see someone in this condition; we feel hopeless when they feel hopeless; no one can fix the situation. Well penned.

Line Gauthier
Date: 12/29/2018 7:25:00 PM

So true, we can't fix the problem. Thanks for your much appreciated visit and comment, ML.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 12/28/2018 7:38:00 PM

Very poignant, Line.

Line Gauthier
Date: 12/28/2018 7:57:00 PM

Thanks for your much appreciated visit and comment, Andrea.

John Hamilton

Date: 12/28/2018 8:29:00 AM

I heard that Christmas time there is a spike in suicides, people feeling alone, however, I saw a video that states the opposite. Anyway, that's what came to mind after reading this one, it's so sad people feel so desperate sometimes!

Line Gauthier
Date: 12/28/2018 9:49:00 AM

Thanks, John. Glad you resonated with this one.