by Steven Urquhart Bell

“Hospital ‘used model skeleton’ [to hold] patient’s drip”
—BBC

If I woke up in hospital,
Especially at night,
And saw a bony stranger in
The dim, uncertain light,

I’d think it was the Reaper come
To usher me away.
He’s left his robe at home because
It’s such a muggy day,

Would be my final earthly thought
Before I died of fear,
And then another bony gent
Would suddenly appear,

And this one would be in a robe,
And brandishing a scythe,
And I would say, “But that’s not fair!”
And Death would say, “That’s life.”