Rudi’s Warm, Loving Embrace Poem by Louise Tredoux

Rudi next to my bed, reassuring and kind, I
fell heavily while hiking with Juliette, woke
up in hospital, feeling awful, a bandage
around my head, Rudi came, flowers and
chocolates and the kiss of life, eyes – the
regard of love, hands, a touch of delight

My head is better already, the hospital dis-
appeared in its place I see eyes, feeling Rudi’s
warm, loving embrace; I hear music, wooden
instruments, resonant, whispers, Rudi’s voice,
I lost consciousness, when I came to again,
he was fixedly staring at me with a smile

He did not leave, said he won’t leave me to die,
kept vigil at my bed, four o’clock early morning
the sister passed, he held me tight, fearing the
darkness of night and fighting the reputation of
early morning for people to give up life, he is
ready to wrestle the Angel of Death, he says

He will not let me go, I was surprised, a little
fall and he’s so concerned, later I’m told how
serious the concussion and how deep the wound
in my head, when my eyes turn up Rudi holds me
with love, I don’t think Death can interfere with
Rudi here...