I am not afraid of miracles,
though all of my angry doubts
must make you think so.
I long for them, fragile as they are,
and coax them with the gentlest flame.
Last night, as I waited for my patient
to turn, a noise came from outside
that could have only been an owl.
As I looked out, a dull light flashed
in the far sky. At that moment,
the child started in her sleep.
It was all I could do to keep
from hoping as I checked her breath
and soothed her tiny body back to sleep.
I try not to hope without reason.
It is not easy to stop hoping,
hard to press against the gods,
more difficult as time passes
and my failures become clearer,
but it is the only honest path, I think.
I am not afraid of miracles,
I long for them.
——————–
My Cro-Magnon friend talks constantly of his endless and often wrenching nights tending patients, from pneumonias to seizures to broken bones.
28 responses to “The gods, the gods, how they love to hide behind a veil”
I imagine the same thoughts occur to modern caregivers.
I think you are right. They are always pushing the edges of what is possible. Thanks for the feedback.
I long for them, fragile as they are, and coax them with the gentlest flame…lovely lines. I too reach for hope as do I think most of us. Being a nurse/caregiver is sometimes so hard but so very necessary. The hope indeed is what keeps us all going.
Yes. That is how it seems to me. I am not a caregiver but have worked with them all my life. I do think caregivers struggle with what to do with hope.m, but it does anchor them in end. I think. You of course would know. Thanks for your feedback!
I so love the interruption of that owl… maybe we need a pull back to reality… though hard you have to have that balanced with hope for miracles to happen…
Thank you. Sometimes I think we want some thing so much we lose all our reason. 🙂
Aside from the killer final couplet – a suitably eloquent and dramatic close – I really liked the second verse, the gentle coaxing of hope and dreams.
Thank you! So glad it worked for you.
Beautiful and eloquent write 🙂
Thank you for your kind words.
Miracles – so elusive yet so often wanted. I remember the desperate need for one, watching my dad fade away. So well written.
Yes. It is like that. Heartbreaking. Thank you for your kind words.
There is always hope, even if one must cling to it with the last shred of doubt.
Yes. Maybe. :). Thank you!
Exquisite poem. Such compassion in words! Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for that. I am going to carry those words with me for a few days.
Lovely and thought provoking.
So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!
A beautifully written piece, Freya!
Sorry, Jennifer! 🙂
Thank you! Very kind of you to say.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Beautiful poem!
Thank you. I really appreciate that.
I love the complexity of this character–the angry doubts, the fear of hope, the soothing and tenderness. “hard to press against the gods”–love that too.
Thanks! He has a lot on his mind. 🙂
this is an emotionally powerful poem, as evidenced by reactions from the other commenters. you’ve done a fine job of creating an admirable persona who is trying to be honest and yet hopeful. the spare two and three-line stanzas help the poem maintain its contemplative tone.
Thank you. Your comments help so much.
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