in the ICU

he looks like he's sleeping
a lazy nap in the warmth-filled basement
his log fire doze

except all of those mechanical sounds
and wires
and the moving graphs
make it clear that everything is too technical

he looks comfortable
but this is no cozy place

there is a difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest
and then the myocardial infarction
terrifying terminology

she cries, which breaks my heart
because they fell deeper into love every day
he was mellowing
he still chopped his wood, stubborn lifting and lugging and falling
but he did the dishes, held her hand and poured her glasses of wine.

he's seen hell. 1945. maggots. limbless, but alive.

wake up. don't leave us this way.