Letting Go (Poetry)

LETTING GO

The room is cool
                a dismal beep
accompanies
                her dreamless sleep.

She doesn’t stir
                she’s not aware
of anyone
                who’s sitting there.

She looks quite young
                relaxed and still
I could believe
                she wasn’t ill

Except the tubes
                that give away
and underline
                the state of play.

They’ve made it clear
                the chance is slim
she’ll ever wake
                the outlook’s grim.

As antiseptic
                minutes pass
I fear to do
                the thing they ask.

I watch her breathe
                each rise and fall
I cannot fathom
                life at all.

I bend to give her
                one last hug
then say goodbye
                and pull the plug.