Thursday, January 25, 2007 Sickness By Aurelio Rico Lopez III
In the hallway,
A stretcher rattles,
Dragged by weary-eyed
Orderlies.
Cardiac monitors beep,
Their rhythm punctuated
By the sudden hiss of
An automated ventilator.
IV lines dangle like
Plastic vines pumping
Vital fluids and medicine
Into wasting bodies.
If death had a scent, it
Would be lemon or pine.
Today's Catch
By Aurelio Rico Lopez III
The boat approaches the dock;
A crowd gathers,
People shove and elbow each other
For the best spot.
A hush descends as pale-faced men
Unload black bags off the vessel
Onto a waiting van.
Package delivered, engine starts,
Red lights pulse.
The ambulance slowly makes its way
Across an ocean of onlookers.
Moments pass;
The crowd disappears.
The water regains its voice,
The wind howls, seagulls call to each other.
The sea awaits.
