christmas day at the hospital

a car crash— 

his heart arythmic, her screams hysterics 
“Crash cart!” she says


crit care teams

shear his shirt 

ram his chest 

his heart has a messy trace

his haemics mayhem 

ascites, striae, artery tears


the carers chase his heart

her cries rise 

he is ice 

it’s time 

Daniel Johnstone (he/him) is a queer poet based in Scotland. Outside of writing, he is a student doctor and volunteers for a suicide hotline. His poetry inspiration is his partner, and fellow queer poet, Carl Alexandersson. His Twitter is @danjoh_