Isolation

By: 

John

Foley

This happened to the son of a friend in the early days of the pandemic. Having said goodbye to his dying father in intensive care the boy then had to isolate at home, separated from his vulnerable mother who could only communicate with him through the bedroom door

In the bed at the hospital
Lungs constricted, gasping breath, the father.
By his side to say goodbye, the son.

Separated by glass, the mother vulnerable.
Forbidden to enter, she watches
The boy. The man. The kiss. The final act.

At home, now separated by the bedroom door.
On one side, the mother helpless
Forbidden to comfort, she listens.
On the other, her son sobbing
Condemned to mourn alone.

More from Poems

Heathrow Airport Toilets

Heathrow Airport toilets are composers: their overture is largo: Their instruments are the echoing footstep, the...

HOW TO BREATHE

This poem was written during lockdown last year. I am lucky to have my local park,...

Moments

Moments of connection were so precious and effort was made with a simple smile in unexpected...

Become a Member

Our Members are champions of literature. Their support makes our engagement work in schools and prisons possible and they enable us to celebrate literature in all its wonderful diversity. As a thank you, we give them all the joys of a literary festival and book club rolled into one, all year round.