Hospital Bed Poem by Rajendra Nagdev

Drop-by-drop
life trickles into veins
breaths multiply.

An iron stand
a white bottle
a long tube,
my friend battling with death.

White coats and long aprons
and anxiety around.

A bright screen
with brighter lines running restlessly on uneven paths
their destination unknown.

Fierce battle
between God Of Death hovering around
and masked skeleton lying on the bed
no one knows who will triumph?

A desperate woman
a puzzled kid
on the other side of misty glass screen
clouds in eyes
long for a touch and feel
to yet un-dead skeleton,
slits between eyelids open wider
- futile search of skeleton for someone around.

Unbearable battle,
I slowly and silently slip out
life bells ringing in ears
- an imagination,
God Of Death retreating
- my wish,
I know well
wishes and imaginations
can not dictate.