Outside the Hospital Window

Outside, the world spins
Manic, humanity stumbles forward
To work, to school, to the future.

In here, a restless wait.

Outside, the sun passes overhead
And overhead again
Sunrise to afternoon to sunset.

In here, the endless drip from bag, to tube, to vein.

Outside, doctors and nurses scurry
Faces in the morning
Retreating backs in the evening.

In here, muffled voices in the hall.

Outside, rain and snow and sun
Scentless, unfelt
Observed through the window.

In here, pungent antiseptic with underlying whiffs of festering grief.

Outside is everything sickness took.