NaPM April 14, 2017

[kolemath]

Dead Child in My Arms

I thought,

her lifeless body cradled
against my screaming chest,
her face, a pale blueing to purple,
cold sleep and limp lips,
her frozen face, stopping time.

I thrust her into the shower,
screaming in her ear to "Wake up!"
screaming to God to "Wake up!"
screaming to myself to "Wake up!"

911 on the line,
ambulance in the street,
she woke up.

"Febrile seizure," the doctor said. "Nothing we can do."

But she's awake and wants to play.