Love is a Fragile Nocturn

[Eric Ashford]

The male ward is never quiet at night,
machines hooked-up to invisible bodies
buzz and beep.
Someone’s moaning in his sleep.
I listen to the late-shift nurses gossiping
at their station.
Follow their footsteps as they move
from somewhere to some other place.
Every hour she arrives by my bed to check my vitals.
mostly I contrive to be unconscious -
just savoring her gentle touch.
Beds creak as patients turn in their discomfort.
I know what she looks like; petite, lovely.
I got myself stabbed in Kuala Lumpur, my fault,
got too drunk to be careful. It’s 1981
back then China Town could get rough.
I’m planning to marry the Chinese nurse
soon as I am up and about.
Meanwhile the other sick folks here
piss their beds, fart, or cough up a lung,
seemingly hell bent on disturbing
my drug induced fantasies.

[indar]

Wow Eric, despite all the snoring and farting you've written a romantic, tender love poem. 

I got caught on "cough up a lung" as, perhaps, a bit overused. Also "seemingly hell bent" softens an in-the-moment perception.  To this poor beleaguered fantasizer they are, indeed intent. 
 

[Dave]

I am afraid I am not convinced this is so romantic given the reasons for being there, the fantasising, the pretending to be conscious, the rather personality-less nurse with the cliche petiteness etc. It comes across a little colonial.

[Colm Roe]

I'm reading from a different angle to Linda and Dave.
I see the N being seriously ill, probably dying, drifting in and out of consciousness as the medication (and/or infections) 
cause hallucinations and flashbacks. Living in denial, refusing to accept his fate.
I especially liked:

machines hooked-up to invisible bodies

And the strangely intense act of listening:

Follow their footsteps as they move
from somewhere to some other place.

His pretending to be asleep (for me) implies a loneliness; the sadness of an N who receives little or no physical affection. 
Anywho, I enjoyed the poem very much, Eric.  

 

[Eric Ashford]

Thank you Calm Rose, your insights are remarkable and follow my thoughts exactly. Much obliged to you for this prescient review.

[Eric Ashford]

Hi Dave, I guess everyone has an opinion. Of course I value yours, but allow myself
to differ. All the best and thanks.

[Eric Ashford]

Thank you Indar for this warm response the the poem. Of course I agree! Modesty is not really my thing, however, I do think this is a work with a few minor bugs in it, and will probably be polishing it up soon.
Cheers mate.