3. my father passing (2008)

never soon,
not yet

he may clutch
at our clutching –

I should not foresee
it yet, but

clenched words, their
echo of approach,

open tears,
eyes breaking

with the weight,
slowing of

his beautiful
weight.

2. my father arising (2008)

in freshened
time attending
to himself,

gifting himself
attentiveness,
switching

off the channels
that pulse at him,
unneeded tentacles.

the segment
hard in him

dropped
like a catch –

his smile as
he dissolves.

1. my father down (2007)

my father down
in the crush
tearful beautiful

if only you could see him under
the machine
__(raining blades,
__time seeping in all ten directions)

my father visibly embarrassed
my father visibly beautiful
___is not what needs fixing

what to fix
___& what first?
nothing’s cheap except the heat

my father failing under it,
or the heat fails him

never thought we’d ask
but come on winter
___need your muscular hand
___on this particular shoulder
______tense as glass