WHEN WAITING IS ALL YOU CAN DO

WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE, WAITING,
FILLED WITH ANTICIPATION
OF A POSITIVE OUTCOME,
TO A LOVE ONE’S CRITICAL SURGERY.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE SWINGING DOORS 
OF THE OPERATION ROOM,
STARING INTO EVERY MASKED FACE,
THAT PASSES OUR WAY, LISTENING ATTENTIVELY, 
FOR OUR NAME TO BE CALLED,
ONLY TO EXPERIENCE ANXIETY COMPOUNDED,
WAITING.

UNEMPLOYED, FOR MONTHS ON END,
EACH NEW DAY, FILLED WITH OPTIMISM,
AS YOU POUND THE PAVEMENTS,
CASTING YOUR RESUMES, 
AS A FISHERMAN WOULD HIS NET, 
ON THE SURFACE OF THE UNKNOWN SEA,
WAITING.

IN THE FACE OF DEATH, SUDDENLY,
THE AFTERLIFE OVERSHADOWS EVERYTHING,
NOTHING ELSE IS OF IMPORTANCE,
NO THOUGHTS OF FORTUNE, FAME, OR GLORY,
ONLY THE REALITY OF HEAVEN AND HELL, ETERNITY,
AND THERE YOU LAY, WITH DILATED PUPILS,
PONDERING YOUR FINAL SECONDS OF LIFE,
WAITING.

WILFORD BARKER.