The ambulance glides to a halt

Flashing lights form strange shadows

On surrounding window panes

of blinded, anxious neighbours.

Uniformed-They step out in frightening unison,

Armed the genii of  medical marvels'

and rush in through the open door.

Inside, inert-gasping on the floor

lies one in the throes of the final mystery.

Invisible-in all four corners, Natures sentinel sits silently

Bemused by the scene of a bloodless battlefield.

Stethoscope- syringe please- 8 mills please-

fading pulse-2 min 30 seconds and counting-brain dead at 4-

10 seconds to CPR-begin de-fibrillation....

Convulsions throw the lifeless form into life-like motion-

The wide eyed family stares in hope.

But the beads of sweat that drip down the

Guardians of life,

Begins to form a defining moment.

Their frantic gazes reveal limited human choices.

Time stands frozen for all in the room.

Sighs, sobs,  heart wrenching cries,

Resound  in a maddening discordance.

Finally, the cold stretcher stretches out this painful choir,

Before the ambulance departs with the departed,

In the wake of a rapidly descending  pall of gloom.