the dying man

thanks his wife because she now
brings him blankets

calls to his daughter and tells her
that she really did look just like

his side of the family

wishes that he had taken the time to
write in a journal

wishes that he had taken the time
to remember all the good turns of luck

that hauled up again and again

calls to his dead son
the boy has been gone for twenty years

but he calls in that voice and
that child is already falling right back into line

some things never change

thanks nobody in particular
thanks everybody - says Daughter look at that lovely moon

says Wife look at the sun do you feel it
both women stand like brooms in the corner

quietly they manage 
Oh we do
all the time wondering

whether their dying man has disappeared
beneath the bedding or slipped out through the window

that one of them forgot to shut.
 
 

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