we can do nothing

First we got married.
Then we had a baby.
Then we bought a house.
Then we started a business.

Across the tiny cul de sac
from our new house
lived our wonderful new neighbors.
T. was working at night
to get the new little house ready,
fixing the bathroom
before we moved in.
("Don't sit on the toilet!
It's falling down
to the subfloor.)

A knock at the door
while he's painting.
"Hi, I'm Chris and I'm Irish
and my mom and dad
want you to come
and eat chicken dinner with us."

Why does tragedy hit twice
in this family.

Their four,
who babysat,
who mowed the tiny lawn,
who grew up
before our eyes,
who went on
to have families' of their own,
why 2 of them get sick, I don't know.

Why one is dying I can't stand.
A nurse, she just wanted to
see her sons' high school graduations.

It's not to be.
She suffers in great pain.
Her whole family
prepares for the end.

We can do nothing,
except call our neighbors,
still there in the cul de sac,
who gave us our start in the business,
who chuckled over our children,
who graciously ask how we all are,
who are thankful for our prayers,
while their own children
lie in pain.

We can do nothing.

...................... ....................................