Josie's Wine

Josie's Wine

"She's gone, gone, gone,          

Gone, gone, gone.                   

Crying won't bring her back."   

Harlan Howard

sung by Lefty Frizzel

It had been a long day
beginning in the wee hours
with the nurse's call,
"we're seeing changes,
might want to come down."

Daybreak,
no perceptible change,
vitals regular,
but no responses
time for food
and to wash up.

Take a break
check the mail
as she would have it
every day, no fail.
She'll know if you don't.

Sister goes back to her room
to freshen
and perhaps sleep a bit
Others come, no change
She's waiting, but
for what, who?

Morning drags
her man's here
no one with her now
he goes in
hold her hand
and waits.

Pulse is not countable
breathing shallow
but regular.
25 per minute
no responses
Now it's happening
18,  14, 12, 10

Is it time?
They are alone
he talks,
aide stops by
says it is close
nurse, stethoscope
listens, looks away

Looks at him
shakes her head
"she's gone"
now we know,
for whom she waited.
rest.

Paperwork
Names, places
times, words,
decisions shared
made and recorded
and finally home

At her table
hungry?  No,
me neither
drink?, maybe
in the fridge
zinfandel, half a bottle

Glasses,
a silent toast
two sons now
and the wine goes fast
we've had better wine
but this is kind of special

We sip and sit and talk
or not.
We're all thinking
of what we've lost.
we don't know why
things happen.

Whatever it is,
this time is special.
We will remember
the day she left,
and the time we sat
at her dining room table
and drank the last of Josie's wine.