The Ward

White floors, white lights
white noise.
Quiet halls, quiet night,
quiet struggle, quiet love.
Open doors and empty beds
Running tears and shaking heads.
Mylar balloons for every child
Parents praying for a smile.

Black night, black shoes
black eyes.
Loud beeps, loud blood,
loud life, loud hope.
Spend enough days in this hall
'til nothing else feels safe at all.
When nothing else is left unsaid,
I'll gladly take the empty bed.