Friday 13th

The silence while we waited after the 999 call. The peace as the paramedic placed 

a thermometer under your arm, pinched the flesh on the back of your hand, held 

your wrist. The bitten tongues while we waited to hear if you could answer his 

questions.

cherry blossom falls

grass littered with confetti

blackbird pecks

The silence as the ECG read the mountains and valleys of your heart. The 

calmness as we listened to Barry the ambulance man describe his prized pen, the 

one he will never use, with the nib crafted from one of NASA’s rockets. The 

dumbness as I worked out what DNR is and my taciturn response, hoping you 

were unaware as you rested your eyes.

market stalls clear

cars bumper to bumper

single magpie caws

The silence as I joined you in the sideward, you’re skin pale saffron in a hospital 

gown with bright yellow tulips, your white hair limp and stuck to your head. The 

hush as they hooked you up to a drip, I surveyed the view from your City window 

to plot visible Belfast landmarks. The reticence of my frown when you told me 

they didn’t know where the infection was, even after samples and x-rays. The 

reserve as I kissed your forehead goodnight.

battleship heavens

downpour rubs out skyline

riverbank bursts