After / Before

be free

After the beeping stopped

The monitors off

The team gone

After the belabored breathing

The heaving

The oxygen turned off

The circle of us singing

Grieving

Hands held

Had dropped

Crumpled in my sadness

Opened untethered

Uncertain reeling

Tears streaming

I stopped

Lightness crept into me

The sorrow of your leaving

Paused long enough

For me to breath in

An epiphany

The pain I am feeling

Is in fact JOY

Wings beating

You’re free

As you should be

the LOVE

all of it

is here to keep