Troops of Baboons
Before putting in the arterial line
They check the pulse at her wrist
And document a negative Allen sign.
DNR, do not intubate, no surgery
But pressors were ok and antibiotics
And anything else to relieve her suffering.
The POA papers didn’t make any sense
Keep her alive but do it kindly?
She was tach-ing away in the 130’s
Wide eyed and pale
Positive Blumberg sign
Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Everything in this zone has a name
Except for what to call the gathering
Of family and friends clutched in vigil
In the small room next to the elevator
Waiting for the procedure to be done
We have murders of crows
Coalitions of cheetahs
Troops of baboons
Bloats of hippopotami
But no word for small clusters
Of humans on the verge
Of a devastating loss