Brogue 2007 - Belhaven College
Brogue 2007 - Belhaven College
Brogue 2007 - Belhaven College
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t h e b r o g u e<br />
My Mother’s Last Breath<br />
C H E R Y L A L E X A N D E R<br />
The room I entered was a dream of this room.<br />
There the dimness wavered, as if alive, thrumming<br />
in time with the restless heart-dance, the eeh-oh<br />
eeh-oh of the artificial respirations pumped<br />
at 450 tidal volume, 16 breaths per minute<br />
into her pigeon chest making chills rise, then<br />
fall to the beat of the cardiac monitor...a<br />
gross concerto led by the maestro, a grim<br />
reaper, hovering with cape half-wrapped<br />
around the tiny body, eeh-oh eeh-oh,<br />
Mama won’t wake up, the beat<br />
dance slows—60, then 50—<br />
moving and working<br />
for nothing...hazing<br />
this room now...<br />
blurring...<br />
no blink...<br />
eyes closed...<br />
a smile...<br />
nothing...<br />
eeh...<br />
oh...<br />
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