A Vigil Begins

Dedicated to all the couples out there
who are dealing tonight with
medical issues, praying with them
for those miracles.

"Till death do us part,"
the long ago promise
announced to the world that
two hearts were then joined together,
two lives linked and meshed,
two families entwined so
that his kids and hers became
theirs, celebrated in style.
Too soon, separation,
unplanned and unwanted, after
fighting to keep it at bay.
This visitor's rude, an intruder
who barges in without invitation,
cancer (quite literally) spreading
its mischief as wife sits by bedside,
and husband slips further away.
The miracle they pray for will come,
returning his health, turning gray
skies to blue, or a bestowing of
grace to adjust to the emptiness
there in her heart, in their home.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2014