When Your Heart Stops

When Your Heart Stops

The absent heartbeat
Kicks the alarm, shrieks
You sprint, slap the switch

Charging
Blue lights spin like roulette
Brace Brace Brace
Clear

The man jumps
Twitches, collapses
Flatline
Charge again

Second shock 
This jump’s higher
A pulse
The wavy line flattens 
He’s still dead

Confessor? Assessor? Professor?
If he wakes we’ll see if he knows
Third time round odds are down
I just shock ‘em, fate sorts them
Or God, they say

Jolt number three
One, two, four, a burst
Electric life staggers up
We’ve got a heart

When it’s time to die
Humans can’t wait
When your heart’s a machine
You just keep going