The wind whispers secrets soon to
be revealed. Pushes him along.
There is no cure.
He shuffles. Small steps. Unsure
for the first time
in forever
whether he can make the hill.
Pail in hand, he bends, turns
the spigot, spends
precious minutes.
Watches water fall. Rinses
out the larvae and the slime.
Fills the pail and after
a time convinces himself to stand.
Physics is cruel. And a body at
rest remains. He moves forward.
Pours water for the cats,
seed for the birds, feed for the possums
and raccoons. Corn for the deer.
Meat for the dogs.
They need. They all need to live, he says.
Everything is creation or calamity
and he the only thing between the two.
What will they do when he is gone?
It is hunger that drives him
though he does not eat. He is shrinking
and I think he may shrink into the earth
when his credits and balances are due.
He is winded, his time near its end.
He passes me the pail. I bend.
Turn the spigot. Water falls.
03/09/2012
Oh...all teared up reading this...heart achingly powerful...wonderful word smithery, imagery and craft support it. Still teared up and pensive. I think this is one of my favorites of yours ...in a bittersweet sense...
ReplyDeleteThis is powerful to me, too. Over the weekend three of my neighbors asked me at different times about another neighbor we all love and are becoming terribly worried about. He is a widower, NO family, health is failing but he cannot and will not give up...but something is going to happen. We all admire his independence and determination...but something serious is going to happen - it's just a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteYour words are beautiful, Elodie. Words spoken directly from the heart are always powerful.
Very emotional! I Love it!
ReplyDelete