You don’t know what to do –

when your days have been

defined by visiting hours and

your thoughts consumed by

the care of her – of getting

drinks and food and worrying –

and suddenly all that’s gone.

Suddenly her soft salt-and-pepper

hair is no longer there for you

to touch.  She no longer needs

you to call the nurse.

Your thoughts are no longer

consumed by numbers on

screens or the colour of her

water or how warm she is.  And

then you have to begin to try

to remember what else there

is besides that small room

into which you poured

so much of your love.