Limbo
=====

* Victoria Ando

> > they parade through the hostile check-in,
> > 
> > the entrance
> > 
> > wrapped in grey,
> > 
> > shrouded in silence
> > 
> > a mournful dance in limbo
> > 
> > daily
> 
> > sad, expressionless faces,
> > 
> > there is nowhere else to go but here,
> > 
> > the destination one,
> > 
> > the departure unclear
> > 
> > delayed
> > 
> > daily
> 
> > they wake in her unquiet presence,
> > 
> > wait
> > 
> > her restless peace,
> > 
> > agitated
> > 
> > they *promised* she would go
> > 
> > lingering
> > 
> > daily
> 
> > her weakened lungs
> > 
> > shattered and battered
> > 
> > a cloak
> > 
> > of smothered ash
> > 
> > weak and heavy and tired, thick
> > 
> > her every breath
> > 
> > saturated and hungry
> > 
> > a struggle, her lungs
> > 
> > held open only by the machine
> > 
> > now turned
> > 
> > off
> 
> > awaiting take-off, exit
> > 
> > daily
> 
> > each breath a hope of final rest
> > 
> > each breath a reminder of impending death
> > 
> > on-going
> > 
> > delayed
> > 
> > daily

## Footnotes

*   Competing interests None declared.

*   Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.