Poem

 

I can’t remember

When I used to rule the world

How far I have come

How much has changed since then

Outside a homeless man

Asks a passerby for change

A child walks with backpack

Across Ashby Avenue

The sun changes its light

Falling first upon photographs

Hallmark cards

Flower bouquets

Feeding tubes

The light moves slowly

Across pillow

Illuminating his face

Tired, kind eyes

Search the heavens

Through hospital ceiling tiles

For clues to the pain

He asks why plaintively

Clock ticking on the wall

Low drone of a TV show

No one cares about

Voices of support

Blurred outlines of faces

He sees through them

“I love you Daddy”

“We’re all here with you”

“You’re the greatest man there ever was or will be”

His eyes move past

Familiar faces

Beyond ceiling tiles

Lips quivering

Yes

I used to rule the world