Resident Artist 2: David Arthur, No. 1

Resident Artist 2, No. 1: Room #5234

Leaving the thick skin

of traumatizing memory

at the elevator door,

force it down my throat

as the smell of saline,

decaying skin,

and the terminal ill

slip their way back to my thoughts.

I have been here before

standing on the outside

waiting, helpless.

DeJa Vu dilates my pupils to fear.

The sound of EKG beeps pound

my ear drums to panic, the working

reminder for life being momentarily

I am not the professional

and do not trust the badge.

My specialty is staring in shock,

directing love to someone

I don’t know how long will last.

This visit is not about me

it’s for another

who will permanently leave.

When I check in to her room

hear the groggy voice

of low hope and ill fate.

I crack a joke

Hoping if this is the final moment

our final meeting

she will have a smile

while I shed a tear.