Between walls of pale lilac she lay, <br />her body contracting as if to give birth. <br />But instead of a child at the end of the day <br />Her soul fought the ties that bind it to earth. <br /> <br />A fearsome struggle starts deep inside, <br />shown by convulsions that grip her form. <br />Her breathing resembled a hesitant tide <br />lasting through hours from dusk to dawn <br /> <br />Sad vigil is kept by the side of her bed <br />A nurse tells her when she is ready, let go. <br />Bitterness tinges the words that she said. <br />'Tell me how, tell me now, if you know”. <br /> <br />The nurse turned her back on the question so clear, <br />afraid her kind words would add fear and distress. <br />And the end of a life came another step near, <br />while the sun through a window sent rays to caress <br /> <br />The violence subsides her breathing is shallow <br />she lay never moving her eyes fixed ahead <br />I grip her hand tightly her colour is sallow, <br />she smiled then was gone leaving only her dread <br /> <br />Roan. Jan 2008<br /><br />Ann Beard<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/between-walls-of-pale-lilac/
