Dedicated to all our patients who have lost their lives to COVID—and to their families who must grapple with that loss amidst the ongoing pandemic that has already robbed them of so much:
You’ve seen the videos
Nurses, doctors lined up
Waiting in the hallway for
The ICU patient
To part the seas
Lights, camera, cheers, applause
Praise
For strength, perseverance, fortitude
For a battle won
For a conqueror, fighter, survivor
But your mom was, too
Your dad
Your brother, your sister
Your child
The strongest person you knew
You were told
They did their best
It wasn’t their fault
The virus was too
Relentless
But the cheers make you wonder
This other person
Was he stronger
Or tougher
Did he love his family more?
Enough to fight
To live
To breathe again
The silence for your family
Was that respect
Or shame?
For weakness, irresolution
For a battle lost
For the defeated
But you were told
It was time
To let go
Was it you?
Did you give up
Too early
If only you had held on
One more day
One more hour
One more breath
Maybe those cheers
Would be for you
Instead
You watch with tears
Envy longing pain grief doubt regret
Questions
Because if you had life
Why would you need
Cheers
