Bright Fishes

Your struggle for life
was a man moving backwards
down the longest corridor
while his legs walked forwards.

Each drop of it precious
skittering away like mercury
bright fishes slipping through fingers
no net to hold them.

Canute against the tide
thin-lipped determination
will to bend iron
courage against knives, scalpel deep.

Set against this scalding memory
other news which reaches me -
simple slitting of wrists
and ebbing of blood.