This Hell

His thoughts go off like bombs inside his mind,
so deafening, so poisonous, so doomed
to thrash against a dam of memories
that take him back to hopeful yesterdays.
His thoughts will shout but never make a sound,
his mind as sharp as when we was a boy.
His body, once so strong, has flickered out
like flames that reach the end of blackened wick.
His head is full of words he longs to speak,
but in this hell, he cannot move his lips.
As constant tremors steal his weathered pen,
his stranger-hands will never touch again.
He yearns to feel her porcelain petal-skin,
to count the fervent beats beneath her chest. 
But she can only kiss his hollow cheek
where salty tears commingle in despair. 
She sits with him and holds his withered hand.
She runs her shaking fingers through his hair.
He needs to see her soft, angelic face
until his lungs can't hold another breath.


Dedicated to those with ALS and anyone who has had to watch a loved one suffer through this terrifying disease
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Horne Avatar
October 18, 2015 at 3:07 PM
oh, such a heartfelt write - sad but lovely
Nehls Avatar
October 8, 2015 at 7:58 AM
Wow Heather. This is a 7 and a favorite. You have so vividly brought this picture of suffering and love to my heart and soul. I am touched deeply. The prison of ALS is far worse than prison and it is sad to think that vibrant souls are trapped in, "This Hell." Thank you so much for sharing, my friend.... Robert.
Grahamburglar Avatar
September 30, 2015 at 8:15 PM
Hell indeed. This was moving and insightful. Thank you for sharing it.
Lamoureux Avatar
September 28, 2015 at 6:20 PM
This brings to mind the movie "The Theory of Everything". As always your writing moves me.
Vaso Avatar
September 26, 2015 at 11:43 PM
Loved this, its only halfway down the poem I started to get where this was going, I can feel the pain in this and know what this is like, you have expressed this beautifully.
Onclaud Avatar
September 22, 2015 at 11:11 AM
to have compassion and empathy for those who are health challenged is a gift.. and this gift offers much grace and tenderness, heather... wow!.. huggs
Breidenthal Avatar
September 19, 2015 at 10:22 PM
A hard-hitting, powerful piece! "She runs her shaking fingers through his hair." Such a touching, heartbreaking line... these lines are heartbreaking too: "His head is full of words he longs to speak, but in this hell, he cannot move his lips."... amazing work! Always, Laura
Canerdy Avatar
September 19, 2015 at 9:59 PM
Your heart-wrenching poem gives us a glimpse of the horrors of that illness. Janice
Nunez Avatar
September 19, 2015 at 4:54 PM
All the symptoms you have described were present in an aunt who died of same disease. She used to be full of life. A well-written informative piece, the reader may well understand what the victim is going through.
Dietrich Avatar
September 18, 2015 at 1:11 PM
HI, Heather. Read your comment to me. Sorry about your friends with ALS.
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 18, 2015 at 5:49 AM
This is so beautifully composed Heather. My dearest friend has this terrible thief of the mind and I can no longer reach her. She is living in a world of yesterdays that come and go and it breaks my heart. Her older sister died from it a few years back. This moved me to tears. Blessings, Connie
Ober Avatar
September 18, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Connie, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to watch someone you love go through something like this. Hang in there. Hugs!
Romaine Avatar
September 17, 2015 at 9:31 AM
Hey Heather, stopped by for a visit. This is a disturbing treatise on a debilitating and merciless disease that so many suffer with. You have an amazing ability to take us inside the mind of one who suffers with it. Sad yet deeply insightful. Excellent writing and expression. Be Blessed, Neva
Dietrich Avatar
September 16, 2015 at 10:28 PM
OH MY GOSH. this is so so sad, I don't know anyone personally with this. do you? I feel really bad for these folks and for those who suffer along with them!
Ober Avatar
September 17, 2015 at 7:04 AM
I have known a few people with ALS - right now, one of my neighbours is suffering through what is probably his last year. It is heart-breaking to see.
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