Papa T and Granny E
a tree fell
on his truck
and he didn’t
replace it
instead
he drives her car
but she don’t mind
at all
he’d ease himself
in it
and go to see her
taking baby steps
he’d make it
from the parking lot
to the door
down the hall
his third leg
a cane
and she’d be waiting
for him
he’d sit in the corner
and watch
her sleep
and wake up
watch her being fed
and changed
and take her medicine
and get her blood pressure
if he thought
she needed something
he’d get up
and make his way
back down the hall
and get somebody
and turn around
and head back
down the hall
and when she’d cry out
in agony
he’d say, “It’s all right Mama,
it’ll be all right …”
she was his wife, not his mother
but he always called her, Mama
‘cause that’s what the kids called her
just to hear his voice
the sound the same
would soothe her
somehow
but as the days
drew on
he could not
reach her
no more
still he tried
Sunday morning
she was gone
but he’s still
sitting there
in the corner
waiting for her
to come back
to him
TL