Lamentations for Daniel--Passover Questions

 

We urged pain pills
—you couldn't swallow
"You have to," we said,

You said, "I'll cry"

 

We were so afraid, but

how easily the two men carried you down

carried you in a sheet

gripped stiff as a stretcher

You were so light

bones protruding

muscles withered

 

They carried you down the steep steps
you'd never go up again

 

Drove you through the gray, April drizzle

to the hospital bed

to the last pained

"starting a line"

inserting a catheter

 

The nurse said, "So young"

"Our son," we said

You'd sunk deeper into your death

Lay there, panting for breath

It was, in fact, Passover

and you, our first-born son

 

Was God watching you
pushing away the
oxygen mask with
your right hand?

Did he note your bloated
left arm?

Did he remember

your sensitive musician's hands?