When Will You Be Back?

Poem by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed

Yesterday I visited an old man in the hospital.
I was not the only one. We talked on the elevator
ride down—
Has he gained any weight? Will he stay in that room?
Does he like the food? Has he called?
All the man wanted to know was, When will you be back?
We ask that question in a thousand different ways
every single day,