Corey Cook
Resuscitation Annie
I happened on her
in a dream, lying
on the floor, all rubber
and collapsible chest,
just a torso, neck, and head,
her eyes shut, lips parted.
She needed me to breathe
for her. I fell to my knees,
tilted her head back, pinched
her nose, and exhaled
into her mouth. I then started
the compressions. I did this over
and over, breathing and pumping,
pumping and breathing,
but I couldn't resuscitate
the girl with no limbs,
the girl with the eyelids for eyes.
She kept taking from me
and I kept giving.
I should have known better.
She had no lungs, no heart
to jump start. I finally gave up
and rested my sweaty cheek
on her chest only to be woken
by someone's breath
on the back of my neck.
