Do Not Resuscitate

Do Not Resuscitate

The last breath whispered through the man’s chest.

 His eyes lost their shine as the monitor flat lined.

 “DNR” on his wrist but I couldn’t resist.

“Doctor, you have to let me in and resuscitate him again!

I can’t do it! I can’t let him die in my eyes!

Call it selfish,

Call it too much pride, 

but he deserves to stay alive.

He’s not dying on my watch; 

now move over let me in!”

So I grabbed the defibrillator and shocked him again and again.

And once again... 

Breath was put into the man’s lungs.

His head shook 

as his ears rung.

Electricity ran through the patient’s veins 

and along with the pain,

his heart began to take rhythm.

The blood flowed freely within him.

And once again…

he bled. 

The patient looked at the doctor and nothing was said.

I slept for the first time in days.

Woke up in half a daze.

I went to see the patient 

but it was too late.

Blessed with the hands of God 

but I couldn’t stop fate. 

Overnight the patient had pulled the plug on his own life.

With his body lay a note that he had the nurse write. 

I picked up the paper and I looked at the words through the tears in my eyes.

As I sighed, 

my heart stops 

and a part of it dies.

Then a smile began to shine on my grizzled face as I read it again.

“Son, I love you too.”