You were sleeping uneven
And the bed was misshapen
A collection of bands
‘round your wrist

There was too much to scream
And those tubes hung like lights
I wanted to open my arm down
To my fist

I heard eulogy singers
And the light bulbs broke
You were howling to the hall
Where I shook

You were dying in there
While the machines kept running
And while the hospice was sleeping
You kept that same look

You were reasonably bitter
And I knew I couldn’t complain
The least I could do was
Give you a punching bag

And all of it faded
I awoke too scared to speak
Don’t ever let anyone
Tell you you deserve that