Walking a Tightrope

We’re on a tightrope.
Balancing
Vicariously.

Looking ahead
Rather than down
But not able to see
The end of the rope

It goes on
and on
and on

Watching someone you love
in the end stages of COPD
feels a lot like being on
a tightrope.

They tell us he could die
in a day
in a week
in a month
some even last a year.

No matter
We will be walking
a tightrope
until he dies.

Holding our breath
sometimes teetering
almost falling
but then regaining our balance
and moving forward
again.

Fright
Pain
Relief
Fright
Pain
Relief

The cycle will continue
until he dies.

It is strange
wanting both to get off of the tightrope
yet so badly wanting to stay on it.

Let me just keep my balance.