The Coma/The Death

A friend of mine spent several days in a coma before passing on.

where do I go now? darkened tunnels, whispers
in the quiet
light filtering in from cracks above
dripping tears seeping down through every crack
a tired sigh from around a shadowy corner
stinking fetid water, lapping at my toes
the horrendous smell filling even the inside of my head
a dying world, shaking and quaking, gasping for breath
memories slither in and out, shirking the light,
remaining hidden, unreachable
a fresh breeze suddenly parts the heavy air,
voices, loud and resplendent, all around, excited chatter
a bright light, the brightest light, pierces the gloom,
parting the dark
again the voices thunder cheerfully in the glory,
running toward it now, the sloshing beneath my
feet gives way to grass
a field of flowers, bees buzzing, another shudder
awake