a poem I wrote in February- 10 more minutes

I just stumbled across this on my desk, as I'm cleaning, and I don't think I ever posted it before.


Ten more minutes

10 more minutes until it's time to go home
What do you do?
Find one last project to finish?
Clean your desk?
Grab a quick snack?
Check email
Surf the web
make your grocery list
call a friend just to say "Hello"
10 more minutes until it's time to go home
Do you pay a bill?
Send someone a birthday card?
Talk to a coworker
Stare at your child's artwork hanging on the wall?


10 more minutes until the little one is here
The nurse said just 10 more minutes and then
you and your loved one will have a baby in your arms
IF only it was that easy!
10 more minutes until it's time to go home

10 more minutes until your guests arrive
everything is done but what's left?
do you sit quietly and wait
or call to make sure they are on their way
do you give the bathroom one last scrub?
or eat some celery off the plate?
10 more minutes until your guests arrive

10 more minutes in the emergency room
you sit and wait
do you hold hands or hug
or call a friend
or nibble on a candy bar
or sip from a coffee cup
10 more minutes in the emergency room waiting

10 more minutes is what the doctors said
10 more minutes until they pull the plug
10 more minutes feels like an eternity
do you cry, laugh, or just sit and shrug?
do you hold hands, kiss, or look away?
10 more minutes before this life slips away.


------Draft, Feb. 11, 2009