December 10, 2010
-
grandpa.
your bones
are uprightwith two people holding you
a walker for guidance
an the absolute nothingnessof sadness
in every step
that has now becomea permanent struggle
with your gown open
skin translucentbandages
bruised
and bloodywhat a mess
and the diaper
that has been on you all day
is ready to fall offbut whatever pride you had
whatever ego was once there
is now stripped awayheld together
with the humble reminders
of what old age
and final daysweeks
months
you might have leftcan do to a person’s soul
as tears roll down my face
wiped away
quicklyand replaced with my heart
punctured a thousand times overlike a straw
going into a sippy cupone last time.
Comments (3)
Damn, what a painful image! It takes real love to respect and preserve someone’s dignity when their body is failing like that.
frozen strawberry margaritas again?
i really feel this one. (and can smell it and see it and hear the moments in it). being there is so hard. i know what “final days…can do to a person’s soul”. and i know your grandpa’s lucky to have you there to bring kindness. love. i think we can’t under-estimate what those small (huge) things can do to a person’s soul for the better.