the system's fault

people die
in hospitals, in hospice,
in nursing homes.
old, diseased, broken,
done,
expired.
and often you hear the words
of those left behind,
that more should
have been done,
they didn't do this or that,
his or her care
was mishandled.
it's the doctor's fault,
the nurses,
the system.
it's what the grieving
do when
life ends.
the complaint is the same
with almost everyone.
but never, or hardly once,
did they
help or say a word to the
dearly departed about
smoking, or drinking
or eating too much,
or living a dangerous
life. they looked the other
way.