Caregiver's Lament

Our favorite poet, Art Davis, takes care of his wife full time nowadays. They are a devoted couple. Even while she is trying to recuperate from a number of things, operations and infections, she noticed that since she was going to be under the care of a therapist, he was free to come to writers' group. It's the first time since mid-March he felt he could attend.

Here is what he shared with us:

Days trudge down to uneasy calm.
Night arrives draped in fear of what might happen - -
based upon what has happened.
How I long for unfettered sleep.....
The sun sets again upon the undone.
The moon rises,
red from the warming,
Dimly lights my place,
this spit of sand.

The one I've loved so long
sleeps fitfully.
A body racked by age and Rx's.
Systems confused and dosed
by Science's fiction.
The night is kidnapped once again
by Dawn--relentless the routine.
The loved one awakes --
the one upon whom I shower care.
The one who reacts in temper to the
"Please Dear do's and don't's."My admonitions, attempted guidance.
Questioning, "Who prescribed,
Who said that?"
Of what reward is this?

The battles of therapy
continues unabated.
Therapy the enemy.
Pills the dwarfs of repair.
The caregiver, ever the necessary evil.
The bane of days--Vigilante 24/7.

Visitors visit. Prayers vented.
Love brings sustenance.
Mail brings love.
The Children come,
Bless them each.
They bring gifts, do things,
make decisions.
They cook, they clean, they depart.
The caregiver remains, to wonder,
fear, mop, launder, cook -- HA!
react to every sigh,
every move, as the past is recalled.....

Sleep still eludes each glue-footed moment -- every one.

Searching the clouds I pray -- mutely ask God,
"Have you heard my prayers?"
From what I've been told of God--
I suspect His answer would be,
"Why else are you courting another day to care, to love, to hope?"

5/30/08
Copyright- Art Davis