Abstract
“Recollections of His Death” is a reflective poem about the experience of being present in the home during the final moments of patients' lives and witnessing their loved one's grief. As a health care practitioner, it is an honor to be present, but it can also be emotionally taxing. Like a form of debriefing, poet reflection can provide an opening into and an outlet for these complex feelings.
the rise and Fall
of his chest
becomes awkward
his room lit faintly
by a porcelain lamp, casting
a shadow across his face
stripped of hope
her backbone curves
over as she waits
the subtle space
between them
is striking—
with the slowing of his fast
breathing, a stillness
surfaces with permanence
froth seeps
from his lungs, blanketing
his lips
grief slams
into her, grasping
his hand, she collapses
the silence slices
and permeates,
into me with Force