Would-Be Pecker

“If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs, / The bark on the tree was as soft as the skies. / The wolf waits below, hungry and lonely, / And cries to the moon, / if only, if only.” i would die for my Family, take a bullet for my Mother, Father, or Siblings. i would die for my Closest Friends, curl over a grenade for Peers or Acquaintances. i would die for past Mentors, repay Professors and Trainers for their priceless wisdom. i would die for Myself, if only to preserve my Memory and Accomplishments if only the opportunity could arise, if only They were not already dying beside me, for me, if only my wrist wasn’t tethered to IV’s, shackled by Chemo, if only there was enough life in me to die, i would. For Them, i would. i would live so My Mom never cries, i will live because a daughter never dies, i would live so My kid Brother has an anchor, i will live because a sister never lies, i would live so My Best Friend has a partner, i will live because a best friend is always there to empathize, i would live so My Teacher’s teachings do not die, i will live because a student is always there to learn and return the favor, if only if only my wood pecker sighs, if only if only i would live for their tears, if only if only i would live through their tears, if only if only my harsh, little seed would bare a soft, weak tree, if only if only for a lonely wolf to sit under, if only if only so a hungry wolf does not have to eat, if only if only so a wolf can bare my burden forever if it so chooses, if only if only so a wolf can watch my wood pecker peck to its heart’s content. Who’s? When the life support comes they won’t need to pull the chord; if only if only they knew how long i’ve been dead.