For Marek, After Bypass

This should be a bouquet
arranged and fragrant
for your hospital room,
saying something simple
but true, like get well soon,
or best wishes for a speedy recovery,
and those will come later
when we sit in your room
and listen to tired jokes
from the television,

all the while thinking
that heart, what pained you
25 years, was finally known,
but by microscope eyes
and gloved hands;
free of the protections you strung
so carefully around the perimeter;
razor-wire humor
cut neatly through by a bone saw
with your other defenses.

Once, I wanted you open
and raw, no secrets
separating us.

Not like this.  Not everything
laid open under clean light
and that heart stopped,
even for a moment.

I want you whole.

I need to ask your surgeon
if, the moment that caged chest was open
did he hear you heart sing
the pure tones you hide so well?

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16 thoughts on “For Marek, After Bypass

  1. This is absolutely beautiful. I think it’s my favorite.

    I can feel it. Really feel it and the wording, man, you’ve got me teary-eyed and that’s hard to do!

    I hope he is well.

    Loved this:

    and those will come later
    when we sit in your room
    and listen to tired jokes
    from the television,

    And this:

    “Once, I wanted you open
    and raw, no secrets
    separating us.

    Not like this. Not everything
    laid open under clean light
    and that heart stopped,
    even for a moment.

    I want you whole.”

    I think I just copied almost the entire poem…

    Just proves my point even more!

  2. Once, I wanted you open
    and raw, no secrets
    separating us.

    Oh Susan, I teared up, truly. This is beautiful, passionate, yes raw and poignant. I don’t know if I’ve adequately described it, but your poem touched something in me. You are awesome, my dear wordsmith :-)

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