Being
present
with my friend,
wheeling into heart surgery
so close to dying, yet that loving
heart now
reborn,
oxygen and blood
and life flowing
strong
again,
in every beat.

Hearing his voice
stronger now,
tears joyfully on my face, his
healing already begun–
his heart attack self home
the next day
after the surgeon
is inside his heart,
opening up arteries
with new science.

Life
more precious now
richer in blood and oxygen–
Spirit soaring–
nothing taken for granted
everything previous
everything so
alive.

Neal Lemery
9/6/2012