The Fourth Night

The fourth night
she was no longer aware,
only twice did she look
head jerking up, unfocused contact
eyes rolling to the ceiling
the strength of her clenching  
diminished
96 hours of pained cries fading

The fourth night
I turned off the music
and continued to be
the heartbeat in her ear.
as the world silenced
she shook violently on her side
her face blue
I was certain she was dying

Last night,
outside the pool she shivered
every syllable slowed down,
exaggerated
“For strength,” she said
and kissed me.
Moving less like a stringed puppet,
now more like a little girl
she again carried my heart away