March, 2002

in 381

©  by  Caren Stuart

(spending the night
in my grandmother's
hospital room)

i, quiet,
hold this chair's
wood arms
vinyl seat
waiting rhythm
in the rise
of your chest.
a tiny
square of light
lies flat
on my lap
on the page
i'm too still
still to turn.
so aware
of your
small size
in this great
wheeled
steel
bed,
how loudly
the air moves
through the night
of this room.

Previously published in the North Carolina Poetry Society's
Award Winning Poems 2001
and used with the permission of the Poet.

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