I pray that
You’ll never know
These waiting rooms
Better than spaces
Where happier times
Stay remembered
While their emptiness
Swallows me whole

As another day
Filling with grief
Claims this gasping faith
Merely clinging
Onto fading dreams
Barely breathing
When facing doors
Always closed

Hearing doctors
Offer some speech
Even science can’t prove
Like religion
Lacking any such name
But a gospel
Assumed to be real
Though it fails

Letting anger
Throw off my pulse
Skipping heartbeats
Missing all purpose
Losing rhythm
Sadder than feelings
Held between screams
Never heard

Until agony
Kills what persists
Through futile hope
Now remaining
Around those we love
Chasing circles
Pushing back
Against every attempt

Yet believing
Change can occur
Despite repeats
Ruling existence
From fearful nights
Facing symptoms
For mornings
Greeting them still.

• J. Pigno