To the Long Buried

To the Long Buried

House heaped upon your head,
body buried under rubble,
tongue swollen, bones bent, skin red,
world narrowed to nightmare bubble.

Body buried under rubble,
what thoughts magnify your dread?
World narrowed to nightmare bubble,
calling last rites for the dead,

what thoughts protect you from dread?
Alive - fifteen days - durable
stalling last rites for the dead.
Beating all odds, formidable,

alive - fifteen days - miracle.
Tongue swollen, bones bent, skin red,
beating all odds, saint's double,
our awe heaps upon your head, instead.

Katerina Fretwell
Parry Sound, Ontario
Doctors without Borders