Hospice Visit
Hello Mrs. W, – she addresses
my mother.
Can she understand me? she asks me.
Does she know your name? she asks.
What is her name? she points to another.
How much does she drink
In a day? she asks me.
How many ounces of food
does she eat at a time?
Does she ever seem aggitated?
How often does she urinate?
Have a bowel movement?
How much does she sleep
in a 24 hour period?
What is your role here? she questions.
Caregiver.
How can I help you? she asks.
What do you need? she offers.
There are no words.
by Kelly Waterbury
3 thoughts on "Hospice Visit"
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Well-written. The barrage of questions builds the point.
The whole poem points to the silence of the narrator, stunned. You created a heap of silence on top of her head. Such a feeling of cold and sadness throughout.
So many questions, I hoped it felt cold or lost.