Just Enough Poem by Smoky Hoss
Just Enough
The old man
all alone
walks into the hospital elevator
presses the button
with a number one on it
the door closes; he thinks:
(it's dim in this casket, and
the slow music doesn't help much;
...what'd that stone-faced doc say?
was it 5 months, or 5 weeks?
...maybe it was 5 minutes...)
the elevator stops with a lurch
at floor 3
the maternity ward level
the doors open like a closed mouth
forced into a smile
in walks a young couple, holding
their brand new baby, and
speaking in smiles the soft joyous language
of much love yet to be -
the doors close, the elevator continues its slide
down to the bottom.
Back in the corner, as far as he can be
the old man looks up, just enough,
to peer into the eyes of the baby
who is looking straight at him,
smiling.
- The elevator stops
at floor 1
the baby goes out
with the new, happy parents-
the old man stands motionless
by himself
in the darkness of the elevator,
tears flowing down his
wrinkled cheeks, and
into his broken heart
washing away the anger, and
all of the fear.
What a truly brilliant glimpse into the cycle of our existence. Wonderful. Read mine - Hand Haying - Adeline
“washing away the anger, and all of the fear.” Just to see that life is still here. Great pen of thoughts Smoky. Phyllis
What a great idea for a poem and (genius-you) to think of it. Unforgettable, the baby and the old man (and also cut straight from real life, so you get an A+ for material too) . I think I was the babe that always headed for older folks at the store and such, with a big smile of my own, because deep in my young heart I knew that all old folks had to be generous, kind and sweet (and not to forget patient!) just like my grandparents were.
We all have to face our mortality sooner or later - very emotive write.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/8/2024 11:03:13 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Wow very powerful, the end of one life the start of another. Told brilliantly. A fantastic poem.