I Know a Hospital Room

One of the creative exercises I have encouraged my students to practice is the development of a "Noticing Poem" utilizing the refrain, "I Know." The poem is designed to recognize sights, sounds, smells, touch, and words. The topic is to be about something they have done or experienced.

Since I have recently experienced the death of a dear friend, I chose to write about the experience of participating in a service of commendation at the hospital bedside of my friend as she was commended into the everlasting arms of Jesus.

I Know a Hospital Room (sights)

• The soft, puddled, loving eyes of a devoted husband that appear to tenderly caress his wife as she lies sleeping
• Children and grandchildren hovered round her bed
• Tears spilling from the eyes of loved ones
• Wide-eyed somber-faced, serious countenances upon the faces of family and close friends
• Instruments and IV's hooked up to my friend's body
• Hands folded and heads bowed in prayer
• Supportive tender embraces
• The pastor making the sign of the cross on the patient's forehead and on her heart

I Know a Hospital Room (sounds)

• Muffled sobs of loved ones
• Machines beeping, monitors ticking
• Harmonious melodic praise as the hymn, "Beautiful Savior," is sung
• Strong voices of conviction united in speaking "The Apostles' Creed" and "The Lord's Prayer"
• The quiet whisper, "I love you, Mildred"

I Know a Hospital Room (smells)

• The pungent, sterile smell of hand sanitizer permeating the nostrils
• The vacant, sanitized odor of a room in the Intensive Care Unit

I Know a Hospital Room (touch)

• Warm, soft, motionless, unresponsive hands of the patient as they are being massaged
• Soft, cool lips that linger on the patient's forehead as a gentle kiss is placed there

I Know a Hospital Room (words)

• The Invocation: "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen."
• The Apostles' Creed: "I believe..."
• Reflections by the pastor on Romans 8:31-39
• The singing of the hymn, "Beautiful Savior"
• Psalm 23 spoken by the pastor, "The Lord is my Shepherd..."
• The endearing prayer of a pastor who loves the patient, his friend and parishoner
• The Benediction that concludes the service of commendation

I Know a Hospital Room