The Man In The Other Bed Poem by Patti Masterman

His family came with him to the nursing home,
Spread themselves round his bed; he was irritable as wool-
Scratched by everything, stood there.

They left one by one and there he lay
Closed in on himself, like one word from a day-
Trying to die, cause he just couldn't stay.

Several days later, I held his hand too late-
The fire in his eyes was beginning to fade.

He went somewhere far, I guess he's still there;
Much happier too, if the rumored God wills.