Face Off Poem by Francis Poole

FACE OFF


Finally
after a longer than usual
bedside vigil
no sign of a pulse
which leads to
a removal of various tubes
and wires which held
your body down
keeping it from unceremoniously
getting up
and loose gown trailing
making a dash for it.
Soon a muscular black orderly
with opalescent smile
lowers your lids and
pulls a shroud
over your face.
When you open your eyes
in total luminescence
for the first time
you see the universe
peel off its mask
of billions of stars
which you begin to count
as they slowly go out
one by one.
This will probably take forever
but should be just about all
the time you'll need.